A Gainesville police officer is recovering at home after a Sunday accident involving a 19-year-old driver.

Justin Martin, who has been with the force for six years, was about to enter his patrol car after investigating an accident when he was struck, said Officer Kevin Holbrook, spokesman for the Gainesville Police Department.

The accident took place at 4:30 p.m. on McEver Road at Spring Road.

Gordy Wright, spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said Martin's vehicle was struck by a Jeep Cherokee driven by Jennifer Elizabeth Garner, 19, of Gainesville.

She had been driving north on McEver Road behind another Gainesville police officer. As they approached Spring Road, where Martin's car was parked, the other officer moved to the right turn lane, Wright said.

Garner "swerved left to avoid striking the patrol car," Wright said. "In doing so, the Jeep struck Officer Martin with its right front headlight and bumper area."

Martin, a member of the traffic unit, was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

"He received numerous injuries, including broken bones," Holbrook said. "... He has a long road to recovery in front of him."

Garner was not injured, Wright said.

The crash is still under investigation and no charges have been filed, he added.

Holbrook said he couldn't comment on the investigation. He did say that, at the time of the accident, Martin "was positioned north on McEver Road directly in the intersection with Spring Road. The accident he was investigating was in the intersection."

Also, he had his blue lights flashing at the time.

Holbrook said department procedure involving an officer in an accident calls for an investigation by an outside agency, in this case in the Georgia State Patrol.

"So any charges related to this ... will be handled by them."