The bodies of two Fulton County sheriff’s deputies killed in a crash on I-20 in east Georgia are back in metro Atlanta.
Deputies Kenny Ingram and Anthony White on Wednesday were escorted to the GBI’s headquarters in DeKalb County by agents from the Georgia State Patrol, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Atlanta police motorcycle unit and Fulton sheriff’s office.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The caravan left the Columbia morgue in Evans just after 11 a.m., Fulton County sheriff’s spokeswoman Tracy Flanagan said. It arrived at the GBI just before 1 p.m., Channel 2 Action News reported.
Following the autopsies, White’s body will be taken Murray Brothers Funeral Home in Atlanta and Ingram’s will be taken to Donald Trimble Mortuary in Decatur.
The deputies were on their way to pick up an inmate from the Augusta area when their Dodge Charger hit the back of a tractor-trailer that was stopped for traffic on I-20, officials said. The fatal wreck happened shortly after 11 a.m. at exit 190 near Grovetown, according to Georgia State Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Stephanie Stallings.
“Please keep the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office family and the family members of all involved in your thoughts and prayers,” she said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
According to the sheriff’s office, both Ingram and White were assigned to the agency’s Law Enforcement Division, which is responsible for transporting inmates to and from the county jail.
Ingram worked for the sheriff’s office for nearly 15 years and White’s eight-year work anniversary would have been in December.
“These men had a profound sense of duty throughout their distinguished careers with this agency and for us and this county, the loss of these deputies is devastating," Sheriff Ted Jackson said in a statement.
The department’s volunteer chaplains are offering grief counseling to the deputies' families, as well as their colleagues at the jail and courthouse. Their deaths prompted swift condolences from state leaders, including Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
“Tragic news,” Kemp said in a tweet, asking for prayers for the families and colleagues of the deputies killed.
“The thoughts and prayers of all Georgians are with you,” he added.
Fulton County Magistrate Judge Alex Manning said she was devastated by the deputies' deaths.
“They were both great guys,” Manning told Channel 2 Action News. “I trusted them. I trusted them with my life. When I was at the jail or if they were at the courthouse, juvenile court or anywhere with me — they were both great guys and this is such a tragic loss. My heart is broken today.”
