DESOTO COUNTY, Miss — UPDATE 2/8/2021 - Katharine Harris of Memphis made her first court appearance Monday on charges of DUI after investigators said she ran into a Desoto County deputy who was helping a driver change a tire.
Harris remains in a Tate County jail on $500,000 bond.
A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday morning.
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2/6/2021 - A Memphis woman is charged with DUI after hitting a Desoto County deputy with her car while he was helping another driver change a tire.
It happened about 8:30 p.m. as Deputy Austin Eldridge was helping another driver change a tire in the eastbound lane of I-269, just east of the Laughter Road exit.
The Desoto County Sheriff’s Department said there was debris in the roadway that led to the deputy helping to change the tire for another driver.
Deputy Eldridge suffered injuries to both legs and was airlifted to Regional One in Memphis.
Katharine Harris, 37, of Memphis has been charged with DUI with injury. She is currently being held at the Tate County Jail without bond.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Mississippi Highway Patrol are leading this investigation. Harris is expected in court early next week.
"It’s a very serious situation that we’re facing here," John Champion, the DeSoto County District Attorney said. "There were a lot of heroes out there last night that saved this officer's life."
Deputy Austin Eldridge has been with the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department for just over a year. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Department said he has quite a few surgeries ahead of him but is expected to make a full recovery.
For anyone who would like to help Deputy Eldridge and his family financially, click here to donate to his GoFundMe.
"He is a young man, he’s tough, he’s fighting a battle right now, but he will be back," DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco said
The Desoto County Sheriff's Department held a news conference Saturday afternoon: watch HERE.