Ex State Trooper Gets Prison Time In Manslaughter Death Of Braves Trainer's Wife

((HT: AJC.com/Stevens))

Atlanta Braves trainer Jeff Porter and his wife, Cathy, were heading to the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve, 2011 when Georgia State Trooper Donald Crozier broadsided the Porter's car as he was on his way to assist in a high-speed pursuit.

Cathy Porter was pronounced dead at the scene and Crozier was charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and violating his oath of office. Crozier initially would not plead to the oath violation charge, but today relented...

He was found guilty in the court case and has been sentenced to two years in prison with another eight years of probation added after his release. Crozier, it was discovered, had a history of wrecks in his GSP career and was dismissed shortly after the Porter accident.

Crozier apologized in open court to the Porter family and has been ordered by the judge in the case, Fulton County (GA) Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall, to assist in the education of other officers in the dangers of attempting high-speed pursuits.

Here's how the state proceeded after Crozier pleaded guilty to two of three initial charges...
((HT: 11Alive.com))

Ex State Trooper Indicted In Crash That Killed Wife Of Braves Trainer

((HT: AJC/MyFoxAtlanta))

Here's your primer from back on New Year's Eve 2011
Marc Teichner has the story at the time...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Christopher Seward now updates that Crozier has been indicted on charges of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, reckless driving and violation of oath by public officer.

Porter, obviously, isn't commenting- from Spring Training or anywhere...

From Seward's piece:

An investigation found Crozier had activated his lights and sirens, but the trooper did not slow his Dodge Charger patrol car enough to make sure the Porters’ Ford Expedition, which had a green light, had yielded to his patrol car before proceeding through the intersection.

Crozier, who had been on the force for 10 years, was fired after the incident. He released a statement following the accident expressing his sorrow. “I am so sorry for their loss and I think of them and pray for them every day,” he said in the statement released by his attorney.

The case will be heard in Fulton County (GA), but no date has been set yet...