Georgia sheriff’s deputy killed in I-85 crash during high-speed chase in Chambers County

A Georgia law enforcement officer has died after being hit by a Lanett police officer during a high-speed chase on Interstate 85 in Chambers County.

Lanett police say the chase had started in Georgia and had crossed into Alabama when the deadly crash happened at about 11:55PM Wednesday about one mile south of Lannett. Several Georgia agencies were involved in the pursuit involving a driver suspected of stealing a vehicle.

Coweta County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Minix – Photo from Coweta County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office

ALEA has identified the officer killed as Coweta County Sheriff’s Deputy. Eric Minix. He was 31 years old and was from Luthersville, Georgia. ALEA says he was killed when he was getting out of his patrol vehicle.

ALEA says the vehicle that hit him was driven by Lannett police officer Cornelius Robinson, 28, of Valley. Robinson’s vehicle then hit the car driven by the suspect, identified by ALEA as 25-year-old Decedric Donson of Pensacola, Florida.

ALEA says Deputy Minix was taken to East Alabama Medical Center-Lanier in Valley, where he later died.

The following agencies responded to assist the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office: Troup County Sheriff’s Office, Grantville Police Department, Lanett Police Department, West Point Police Department, Chambers County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

Deputies with the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office arrested Donson and charged him with Receiving Stolen Property in the First Degree and Felony Attempting to Elude. Donson was placed in the Chambers County Jail.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has taken the lead in the investigation into what happened. The Lanett police officer has been put on administrative leave.