COLUMBUS– Polk County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Randall Hodge was let go last month after totaling a county vehicle while off duty.

The incident occurred on U.S. 74 on Oct. 1 at 7:55 p.m., according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Hodge was driving a 2010 county-owned Ford and struck a 1993 Ford driven by Chad William McDowell, according to a highway patrol report.

Hodge and McDowell were both traveling west on U.S. 74 near mile marker 168. McDowell’s vehicle was being operated with no tail lights, according to the report.

Hodge was not charged with any offenses, according to the highway patrol. McDowell was cited with improper equipment (no tail lights), according to state Trooper J.K. Henderson

Hodge struck McDowell’s vehicle in the right lane and McDowell’s vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a highway sign, which caused McDowell’s vehicle to overturn, the report states. Hodge’s vehicle came to a rest in the roadway after impact.

Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill confirmed that Hodge is no longer employed with the sheriff’s office following the incident. Hill said the sheriff’s office vehicle was totaled and will be replaced through the county’s insurance.