HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County Police Officer Michael Brady is accused of causing a deadly crash while he was driving and looking at his computer at the same time.

The accident happened in the intersection of J.White and McEver Road in Hall County early Friday morning as Brady was on his way to work at the police department. Troopers say he didn’t see the moped rider right in front of him. Brady rear-ended Dwayne Claffey, knocking him off his moped.

“The officer was on his way to work in uniform but was not responding to a call. He was just on his way to shift change,” Georgia State Patrol Sgt. C.E. Parker said.

According to the crash report, Brady admitted to looking at his computer inside his patrol car at the time of the crash. Georgia police officers are mostly exempt from distracted driving laws while on duty but can still be charged with crimes.

“That does not absolve us from the responsibility to drive responsibly,” Parker said.

According to family members, Claffey had just turned 34 and was on his way to work. He was just one mile from home when the crash happened.

“Just hope people will slow down and pay more attention in this area,” neighbor Roger Pendley said. “Prayers for his family.”

Officer Brady is out on bond from the Hall County jail and remains on administrative duty with the Gwinnett County Police department.

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