BLACKSHEAR, Ga. — A Blackshear firefighter who was critically injured in April when he was struck by a vehicle will return home on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post shared by the Blackshear Police Department.
Johnnie Anderson, a Blackshear firefighter of 30 years, was directing traffic for Pierce County Middle and High schools when he was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of County Farm Road and Highway 84.
Anderson was critically injured and reportedly suffered brain bleeding and internal bleeding. He was airlifted to UF Health in Jacksonville and had to undergo surgery.
Anderson underwent rehab at Brooks Rehab in Jacksonville.
He will return home at 1 p.m., the Facebook post said.
Those who wish to welcome Anderson back an line up along Main Street to wave as he's driven through town.
Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright told First Coast News that the intersection Anderson directed was especially dangerous because of the high volume of cars that pass through the area and because the school's exit road intersects with the highway.
“We’ve got somewhere around 1300 and 1400 vehicles trying to get out," Wright said.
On May 9, the Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] said a light will be installed at the intersection.
The light will be placed by the start of the upcoming school year in August, GDOT said.
The department said first responders will not be needed in the middle of the intersection to direct traffic once the light is installed.