Atlanta police officer struck and killed by suspected drunk driver

By JIM DANKO

A woman is facing charges after an Atlanta police officer was struck by a car and killed while attempting to help another officer investigating a car accident on an interstate ramp.

Chasity Nicole Jones, 22, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, is charged with drunk driving as well as first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving in connection with the accident, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police said Jones struck and killed Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas shortly after 11 on Jan. 24 on the Brookwood Interchange ramp from I-75 southbound to I-85 northbound, the AJC reports.

The newspaper is reporting that the officer was struck just after she got out of her patrol car. Police said Jones’ blood alcohol level was .16, which is twice the legal limit of .08.

Thomas, 46, was a 15-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department, according to the AJC.

Atlanta personal injury lawyer Gary Martin Hays, of the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., noted that drivers who are operating under the influence continue to pose a serious threat to the public.

“Despite efforts to curb drunk driving, negligent drivers continue to put innocent people at risk,” Hays said. “Hundreds of people die in drunk driving accidents in Georgia every year. This is a hard and tragic lesson for a young driver to learn. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Officer Thomas.”

“If you were injured or a loved one was killed by a drunk driver, it’s important to talk to a lawyer about your legal rights,” Hays said.