March 10--The driver who struck a Macon-Bibb County firefighter last summer on Interstate 75 pleaded guilty Monday morning to violating the move over law and was sentenced to a year on probation.
Nayef Mohammad Al-Shroof, 19, of Warner Robins, entered his plea in a Bibb County Superior Court hearing.
His lawyer, Laura Hogue, said Al-Shroof has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder after the crash and evidence shows he fell asleep during his commute to Mercer University and awoke seconds before he struck Sgt. Eric John.
Al-Shroof failed to change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle in the northbound lanes and didn't reduce his speed below the posted 65 mph speed limit, according to an indictment.
After swerving at the last moment, he struck John, who was working to clear a wreck in the left lane, causing John to be thrown into the interstate's southbound lanes.
John was placed in an induced coma due to his injuries, which included broken bones and internal injuries.
Al-Shroof also must pay a $500 fine and complete a defensive driving course. As a condition of his probation, he can't have any traffic violations.
Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. Check back at macon.com and read Tuesday's Telegraph for more on this story.
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