A veteran Atlanta police officer was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver late Tuesday night while assisting at the scene of an earlier crash, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Officer Gail Thomas -- a 15-year veteran of the force -- was on the Brookwood Interchange ramp from I-75 southbound to I-85 northbound and had just exited her cruiser when she was hit, Police Chief George Turner told the newspaper.
The 46-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver who hit Thomas -- 22-year-old Chasity Jones -- was charged with driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, first degree and reckless driving.
The chief said the incident has left the entire department shaken.
"As you can imagine, here are a lot of very raw nerves and emotions," Turner said. "We are very concerned about the family, and also about our family. We encourage our officers to depend on each other and to seek out help."
Officer.com will provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
