A Barnwell County law officer was injured in the line of duty while giving mutual assistance to a neighboring police department.

Williston Police Chief Roger Kaney was transported to Aiken Regional Hospital after being hit by a sport utility vehicle June 27.

The incident occurred in North Augusta where multiple departments joined forces to hold a traffic safety checkpoint.

The Williston Police department recently joined forces with Aiken County to provide those departments with support.

Williston Police department clerk Joanne Cagle said this is the first year the department has participated in the joint effort.

A press release from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety contained the details of the incident.

The checkpoint was located at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Martintown Road.

At approximately 12:42 a.m., a silver 2002 Ford Explorer exited U.S. 1 and approached the checkpoint. The driver disregarded officers' instructions to stop and drove through the checkpoint. The driver then made an abrupt u-turn and began to drive directly at officers.

Officers fired their weapons directly at the vehicle. The vehicle then struck Kaney and fled the scene towards Georgia.

Kaney was treated and released from the hospital with what was identified as "minor injuries."

During the investigation, law enforcement officers found the suspect at a Deluxe Inn on East Martintown Road. Police arrested Damarius Smith, 21, of Augusta, Ga. without incident.

Smith has been charged with two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill.

Cagle said Kaney is home recovering.

Cagle said she has taken "numerous" phone calls with questions concerning Kaney's condition as well as prayers for his recovery.

Although he had no broken bones, Kaney is suffering from headaches and a lot of "road-rash," she said.