Beloved Bartow Paraprofessional Killed By Man Fleeing Police: GSP

ADAIRSVILLE, GA — A beloved Bartow County Schools paraprofessional died in a car crash on Saturday as the result of a police pursuit. Angie Townsend of White Elementary School was a paraprofessional of 23 years.

"She was truly a devoted staff member who put the needs of our children before her very own. She always had an amazing smile, sense of humor, and a determined, unbreakable spirit. She is going to be missed dearly. We would like the community to keep our school and Mrs. Townsend’s family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," Principal Amy Heater said in the school's social media post about the incident.

On Feb. 22, around 9:15 a.m., a Georgia State Patrol trooper tried to pull over a Mini Cooper on I-75 South in Gordon County for speeding at 95 mph, the GSP said in a release to Patch. The car, driven by Christopher Tyler Parker, 20, of Blountsville, Alabama, kept driving, police say.

Police gave chase. Parker exited I-75 and got back on, exiting at exit 310 at Union Grove Road and turned south onto GA 3 toward Adairsville.

As he sped into the intersection of GA 41 and GA 140, police say Parker hit a Buick Verano, driven by Townsend. She was turning left onto GA 41. The impact of the crash pushed her car into a Dodge Durango which was eastbound on GA 140.

Townsend was killed and the driver of the Dodge Durango was taken to the hospital with head and shoulder injuries.

Police say they later discovered Parker had stolen the Mini Cooper from his grandmother on Feb. 20.

He is being charged with felony fleeing and attempting to elude, felony vehicular homicide, felony receiving stolen property and felony bringing stolen property across state lines.

Authorities are still investigating the crash.