The Cartersville Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its officers who was killed Thursday afternoon in a Paulding County car wreck.
A police spokesman identified the officer as 32-year-old Sarah Beth Barnes, a mother of five who spent two years with the department.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Barnes was off duty and driving her personal vehicle at the time of the crash, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Her police department described Barnes as a hard-working officer who will be sorely missed by her family, friends and colleagues.
“First and foremost, she was a dedicated mother,” Cartersville police spokesman Capt. Mike Bettikofer said. “She had five children and she worked very hard to make sure she provided for them ... Everybody’s still trying to process what happened because it was so tragic and so sudden.”
The Navy veteran worked for more than two years as a deputy for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office before taking the job in Cartersville, Channel 2 reported.
In a statement, a sheriff’s office spokesman said the department was heartbroken to learn of Barnes’ death, saying she was “well on her way to doing many great things in public safety.”
Authorities said Barnes was killed in a three-car crash that occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on Ga. 6 in Dallas.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Barnes was driving east in the left lane when her Kia Sorento traveled into the median. She swerved back into the eastbound lanes before over-correcting a second time and crossing into oncoming traffic, authorities said.
As she did, a Jeep Renegade traveling in the opposite direction switched lanes and struck Barnes’ SUV on the passenger side. A 2012 Ford Fusion then rear-ended the Jeep, according to the GSP.
Barnes was taken to WellStar Paulding Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The drivers of the Jeep and Ford were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries, police said. Their conditions weren’t immediately available Friday afternoon.
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