Last year, an Atlanta police officer stopped on Interstate 75 to help another officer working a wreck. Sadly, she was struck and killed by a driver traveling southbound on I-75 at the Brookwood Interchange.
Recently, the driver admitted to hitting and killing the police officer. On Friday, January 11, 2013, Ms. Chasity Nichole Jones, 22, of Stone Mountain, pleaded guilty to this fatal Atlanta car crash that killed Senior Officer Gail Thomas.
Last January, Thomas arrived on the accident scene to help divert traffic away from the previous wreck when she was hit by Ms. Jones. Sadly, Officer Thomas died at the accident scene. Jones, driving a 1998 Honda Civic, was arrested and charged with reckless driving, a DUI, and many other counts. Police found her blood alcohol level was double the legal limit. Ms. Jones pleaded guilty to two of the 13 charges against her.
At court on January 11, 2013, Jones pleaded guilty. According to the district attorney’s office, a Fulton County judge sentenced Jones to a 16-year prison term for failure to obey an authorized person directing traffic and for vehicular homicide.
Senior Officer Thomas was a member of the Atlanta Police Honor Guard and served as a 911 dispatcher prior to her becoming an officer of the law. She is survived by a daughter.
Shane Smith Law would like to extend our deepest condolences to Senior Officer Thomas’ daughter, family, friends, and fellow officers during this difficult time, and we remind all drivers to drive sober.