HELEN, Ga. — A newly obtained video appears to show the moment Helen Police Chief Althea Barrett struck and injured a pedestrian with her patrol vehicle while responding to an emergency call Friday night.
The crash happened around 8:50 p.m. May 15 on State Route 17/Main Street at Yonah Street, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
The video, obtained by Now Georgia, shows Barrett traveling on Highway 17 before turning onto the side street next to Betty’s Country Store in the popular Northeast Georgia tourist town. As the patrol SUV turns, its headlights illuminate two people crossing the street.
The footage appears to show the person closest to the curb running out of the way, while a second individual is struck by the vehicle and falls to the ground. The person who escaped and a bystander rush to the injured person’s side.
Responding to burglary call
According to a preliminary investigation by GSP, the crash happened as Barrett was driving an unmarked Helen Police Department patrol SUV with emergency lights and siren activated while responding as a backup officer to a reported burglary in progress.
“From the video received from an independent witness, it did NOT appear the pedestrian was in the crosswalk at the time of the collision, although he was close to the crosswalk,” GSP’s deputy director of public information, Lt. Edward Starling, wrote to Now Georgia in an email.
A witness told troopers the man appeared to be crossing from a nearby parking lot toward a restaurant.
The Georgia State Patrol has identified the injured pedestrian only as a man from Florida in his 70s who was visiting the area. His name and condition have not been released.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing blood on the roadway where the man was struck. A photo obtained by Now Georgia shows what appears to be the police chief and another person assisting the injured pedestrian before emergency crews arrived.
Still no official report
As of Monday, May 18, the Georgia State Patrol had still not released the official crash report.
The Georgia State Patrol said the scene was documented and witness video was collected as part of the investigation. Troop B’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is assisting with the case.
Chief Barrett has not responded to Now Georgia’s request for comment.
No charges have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
