A PT Cruiser was overturned in the four-car crash at Jones and 15th streets Monday evening. [Sarah LeBlanc/The Augusta Chronicle] ▲ A police cruiser was involved in an accident at Jones and 15th Streets Monday evening. James “Buddy” Ray’s Toyota T100 clipped the back of the police cruiser. [Sarah LeBlanc/The Augusta Chronicle] ▲ A PT Cruiser was overturned in an accident at Jones and 15th Streets Monday evening. [Sarah LeBlanc/The Augusta Chronicle] ▲

Deputy Joseph Hawk "stated he was distracted when he looked down and reached for his microphone on his portable radio,” according to the Georgia State Patrol.

A Richmond County sheriff's deputy told investigators he became distracted reaching for his portable radio microphone before the four-car wreck he was involved in at the River Watch Parkway exit downtown Monday.

The Georgia State Patrol incident report identifies the deputy as Joseph Hawk, born in 1994. Hawk joined the sheriff's office in August, when he was listed as a "deputy in training," according to city personnel records.

Video captured by a front-facing dashcam on one of the vehicles that was struck shows the police Crown Victoria without lights on running a red light at Reynolds Street and striking a PT Cruiser. The PT Cruiser then collides with another vehicle and overturns, as Hawk keeps moving and hits the truck with the dashcam, which was also exiting River Watch.

Hawk was the only person reporting an injury, according to the report, although he and the second driver were taken to a hospital.

The report said Hawk "was distracted, causing him to disregard the red traffic control device," and that three witnesses, including another sheriff's deputy, observed Hawk running the red light.

"He stated he was distracted when he looked down and reached for his microphone on his portable radio," the report said.