Oct. 22, 2007. SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- A man had his leg severed when he was struck by a motorist who was fleeing police, authorities said.

Police later arrested Mario Smith, 28, and charged him with felony hit-and-run and felony obstruction of a police officer. He also faces charges of fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer.

The incident began shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday when a Sandy Springs police officer pulled Smith over for a minor traffic violation, police Lt. Steve Rose said.

A check of Smith's driver's license showed he had a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in Fulton County court on a theft charge. The officer told Smith he was going to arrest him and had cuffed one of the man's hands when the motorist began to resist.