Trooper Involved in Accident That Killed Wife of Braves Pitcher Fired

Colonel Mark McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, announced Friday that after an initial briefing on the of Loganville, the trooper involved in the accident was fired.

Trooper First Class Donald Crozier, a 10-year veteran of the Georgia State Patrol, collided with a vehicle driven by Braves trainer Jeff Porter, sending the trooper, Porter and his 19-old-old son to the hospital and killing Porter’s wife, Kathy, 54.

McDonough said in a press release that separate investigations by the GSP Specialized Accident Reconstruction Team, the department's Special Investigations Team, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office would continue. He said the finding would be presented to DA Paul Howard on the conclusion of the investigation for any charges to be considered. He said the termination of Crozier would have no impact on the findings of the investigations.

Crozier was rushing to join in a motorcycle chase at the time of the wreck. The Porter family was on the way to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. Earlier reports were that the trooper entered the intersection against a red light but that his siren and lights were activated at the time. A copy of the accident report is included.