A Henry County police dog was killed Thursday evening when a patrol car and a tractor-trailer crashed on I-75 in Spalding County, authorities said.
The incident happened shortly after 7 p.m. near mile marker 206 and shut down the interstate in both directions for hours, the Georgia State Patrol told AJC.com.
Credit: Georgia Department of Corrections
Credit: Georgia Department of Corrections
According to investigators, the collision occurred when a Henry County police vehicle carrying two officers and the dog attempted to pull into the northbound lanes from a median turnaround dividing both sides of the interstate.
“The patrol vehicle proceeded to make a wide turn entering the left lane and then into the middle lane,” the GSP said.
As the police car pulled out, the driver of the tractor-trailer switched from the far right lane into the center lane, striking the police cruiser on the passenger-side door.
The impact of the collision sent both vehicles into the guardrail and caused the tractor-trailer to overturn in the center median.
Both officers suffered minor injuries and were taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital and later released, according to Henry County police spokesman Capt. Randy Lee. The driver of the 18-wheeler was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital. Police said he was conscious at the scene, but his condition wasn’t available Friday.
A police dog named Thorr was rushed to a veterinarian after the crash but could not be saved, Lee said. The 5-year-old Belgian Malinois had been with the department for six months.
The Butts County, Henry County and Spalding County sheriff's offices assisted with the traffic and detours, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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