FORMER STATE TROOPER TO SERVE PRISON TIME FOR FATAL CRASH
State vs. Donald Crozier
Atlanta- A former State Trooper accused of causing a deadly crash in the line of duty has been sentenced to two years behind bars and eight years on probation. During court proceedings Tuesday, Donald Crozier pleaded guilty to Violation of Oath---- after initially declining to plead guilty to that count of the indictment. A day earlier, Crozier pleaded guilty to Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree and Reckless Driving charges in connection with the 2011 death of 54-year-old Kathy Porter, wife of Atlanta Braves Trainer Jeff Porter.
The crash happened on December 31, 2025 while the Porter family was en route to a sporting event at the Georgia Dome. Kathy Porter was a passenger in the 2006 Ford Expedition being driven by her husband Jeff when the vehicle was struck by Trooper Crozier’s patrol car at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Memorial Drive. Mrs. Porter died at the scene as a result of her injuries. Her husband, the couple’s son and a family friend were injured.
Trooper Crozier was on duty at the time of the incident and en route to a call. He was terminated after the crash. Immediately following the accident, the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine if criminal charges should be brought against Crozier.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall levied the ten year sentence plus a five year suspended sentence on the Violation of Oath count against Crozier following his final plea proceedings.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shondeana Morris with assistance from Chief Senior District Attorney Lance Cross, Senior ADA Joshua Morrison and Senior DA Investigator Benjie Fennell. Sergeant Richtie Harris of the Georgia State Patrol led the initial investigation.