A Dawson County deputy was injured last week when a driver failed to stop at a traffic light and collided into his patrol cruiser.

Deputy Jamie Grulla reportedly returned to work on Saturday, four days after he was taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for evaluation on his ankle.

"We thought his ankle was broken because it was really swelling up, but he is OK, and we're glad about that," said sheriff's Maj. Greg Rowan.

Grulla was responding to a call of two children being locked inside a car just after 2 p.m. Aug. 5 when his cruiser was hit by a driver that ran a red light as she attempted to cross Hwy. 53 from Perimeter Road.

The 21-year-old driver, Elizabeth Hamil, was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device, Georgia State Patrol spokeswoman Robin Stone said Friday.

According to Rowan, Grulla was running his siren and emergency lights en route to the call on Shoal Creek Road.

"We had witnesses that said he slowed down as he approached the crossing even though his light was green. The witnesses all said the other driver ran the red light," he said.

After hitting Grulla's car on the passenger side, Hamil's 2003 Honda Civic continued across Hwy. 53 and came to rest inside a garage at the crossing.

"She struck the garage door and traveled through the door and struck a 1973 Ford pick-up inside the garage," Stone said.

Hamil was not injured in the wreck.

Rowan said he suspects the department's insurance carrier will consider the patrol car, a 2012 Dodge Charger, a total loss.

"We will be able to salvage the equipment inside," he said.