MrJim911
07-21-2002, 14:37
Witnesses say a DeKalb County police officer sacrificed her own life to avoid hitting another car and possibly injuring someone else.
Officer Ann Guinta, the mother of a 5-year-old son, died about mid-day Saturday after she lost control of her cruiser and crashed down an embankment, DeKalb police said. Two witnesses said Guinta's split-second reactions saved their lives.
Witness Troy Cook said, "I think she gave her life for us."
Cook and Marc Zachery told police they were in a car trying to make a left turn in the left-hand lane of North Decatur Road, near Dixon Street in Scottdale, Ga. A black truck stopped behind them had begun trying to go around the car.
At that moment, Cook and Zachery said Officer Guinta's cruiser came racing up from behind, having driven over a hill and around a curve toward them. Both men said they heard the cruiser's siren and saw the lights flashing.
Guinta was on her way to assist a fellow officer in responding to a fight on a MARTA bus on Memorial Drive, according to DeKalb Police Chief Eddie Moody. It's not yet known exactly how fast she was driving.
The men said the truck, once trying to go around their car, began pulling back behind them.
Guinta turned her car toward the right-hand lane, but clipped the truck's rear in the process. She lost control of the cruiser, possibly blowing out a tire, and ran off the road, police said.
Cook said, "She tried to avoid the black truck because the black truck came out to get in another lane as you normally would when someone's turning in front of them... and it clipped, it hit the black truck." The police cruiser dove into an embankment estimated to be at least 15 feet deep and struck a tree. The car's roof became impacted and the vehicle was flipped over when it came to rest.
Zachery said, "You could see the car swerving. She was losing control and you could see her expression once she hit the curb, half turn. That's why the car hit on (Guinta's) side."
Cook said, "She tried to avoid hitting anybody else."
After DeKalb police arrived at the scene, Cook and Zachery said they helped officers right Guinta's car. Zachery said the tree had struck Guinta's side of the vehicle.
Police reports indicated the car's roof had to be cut off in order to free Guinta. Shortly thereafter, the DeKalb medical examiner arrived and pronounced Guinta dead.
Zachery said, "It seems as if she was trying to avoid causing problems for everyone else. It does seem that way, seems as if she was trying to avoid causing problems, seems like she was a hero. That's what it seems like. She was a hero." Chief Moody said, "This officer died doing what officers do... trying to help
others."
The death of Guinta, a DeKalb police officer for five years, left her closest colleagues so shaken that some of them went home early for the day.
Moody said, "This officer was energetic, positive... a loss to the family of DeKalb police."
The chief added that there's nothing to indicate that Guinta was driving too fast. Because she was responding to call, Guinta could have been driving legally above the speed limit.
Other drivers involved in the incident are not expected to face charges, the chief said. However, the police department's specialists will be spending a few more days going over the accident to be sure.
Guinta is survived by her young son, who was in New York visiting his grandmother Saturday. DeKalb police are making arrangements to bring both of them back for Guinta's funeral.
Officer Ann Guinta, the mother of a 5-year-old son, died about mid-day Saturday after she lost control of her cruiser and crashed down an embankment, DeKalb police said. Two witnesses said Guinta's split-second reactions saved their lives.
Witness Troy Cook said, "I think she gave her life for us."
Cook and Marc Zachery told police they were in a car trying to make a left turn in the left-hand lane of North Decatur Road, near Dixon Street in Scottdale, Ga. A black truck stopped behind them had begun trying to go around the car.
At that moment, Cook and Zachery said Officer Guinta's cruiser came racing up from behind, having driven over a hill and around a curve toward them. Both men said they heard the cruiser's siren and saw the lights flashing.
Guinta was on her way to assist a fellow officer in responding to a fight on a MARTA bus on Memorial Drive, according to DeKalb Police Chief Eddie Moody. It's not yet known exactly how fast she was driving.
The men said the truck, once trying to go around their car, began pulling back behind them.
Guinta turned her car toward the right-hand lane, but clipped the truck's rear in the process. She lost control of the cruiser, possibly blowing out a tire, and ran off the road, police said.
Cook said, "She tried to avoid the black truck because the black truck came out to get in another lane as you normally would when someone's turning in front of them... and it clipped, it hit the black truck." The police cruiser dove into an embankment estimated to be at least 15 feet deep and struck a tree. The car's roof became impacted and the vehicle was flipped over when it came to rest.
Zachery said, "You could see the car swerving. She was losing control and you could see her expression once she hit the curb, half turn. That's why the car hit on (Guinta's) side."
Cook said, "She tried to avoid hitting anybody else."
After DeKalb police arrived at the scene, Cook and Zachery said they helped officers right Guinta's car. Zachery said the tree had struck Guinta's side of the vehicle.
Police reports indicated the car's roof had to be cut off in order to free Guinta. Shortly thereafter, the DeKalb medical examiner arrived and pronounced Guinta dead.
Zachery said, "It seems as if she was trying to avoid causing problems for everyone else. It does seem that way, seems as if she was trying to avoid causing problems, seems like she was a hero. That's what it seems like. She was a hero." Chief Moody said, "This officer died doing what officers do... trying to help
others."
The death of Guinta, a DeKalb police officer for five years, left her closest colleagues so shaken that some of them went home early for the day.
Moody said, "This officer was energetic, positive... a loss to the family of DeKalb police."
The chief added that there's nothing to indicate that Guinta was driving too fast. Because she was responding to call, Guinta could have been driving legally above the speed limit.
Other drivers involved in the incident are not expected to face charges, the chief said. However, the police department's specialists will be spending a few more days going over the accident to be sure.
Guinta is survived by her young son, who was in New York visiting his grandmother Saturday. DeKalb police are making arrangements to bring both of them back for Guinta's funeral.