Mike Organ

morgan@tennessean.com

Former Vanderbilt running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison was released from the hospital Tuesday after being injured in a wreck Sunday.

Jackson-Garrison, 29, an Oak Ridge police officer, was answering a call when the accident occurred. While trying to clear a four-lane intersection at a red light with his emergency lights and siren activated, Jackson-Garrison was struck from the side by a vehicle.

He was rushed by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville.

He suffered a severe concussion and is still unable to walk on his own and remains nauseous.

"It's my first concussion; I never had one playing football," Jackson-Garrison said. "My motto was always to try to give the lick before it comes to me. I'm still in pain, I have a lot of dizziness, and I'm not really eating much."

No charges have been filed; the other driver and her passenger were not injured.

Jackson-Garrison is tied for ninth on Vanderbilt's career rushing list with 1,814 yards. He led the Commodores in rushing in 2005 with 539 yards on 97 carries and scored eight touchdowns and again in 2007 with 594 yards on 148 carries and five TDs.

He is from Knoxville Central High School and was the state's Class 4A Mr. Football in 2003.

Jackson-Garrison said he vaguely remembers the collision.

"I was en route to a call; we had a guy running," Jackson-Garrison said. "I was clearing an intersection with my lights and siren on. With a big intersection you've got to clear it lane by lane. The first car stopped, and as I was creeping out, the next one was just coming too fast. The next thing I know, I woke up and they were cutting all my stuff off of me. It was the hardest ear-hole hit I ever took."

Jackson-Garrison, who previously was an officer with the Knoxville Police Department, said he is unsure how long he will be out of work.

"After I get out of the hospital, I will have a checkup at the two-week mark so I know it will be at least that long before I can go back to work," he said. "Everybody has to sign off on everything. They said because I was in good shape, that's going to help me out a lot."

Jackson-Garrison played running back and linebacker for Knoxville Nighthawks of the Professional Indoor Football League in 2011-13.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.