A 60-year-old Atlanta woman and two Marietta police officers were seriously injured when the woman drove her Ford Mustang into the rear of the police department Ford Explorer while at a high rate of speed..
[The Cobb Courier withholds names in articles about traffic incidents when it is uncertain whether charges will be filed]
According to a public information release from Officer Chuck McPhilamy of the Marietta Police Department, the department’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Unit is investigating the three-vehicle incident that occurred Friday, August 16, at about 10:15 p.m. on Cobb Parkway North at its intersection with Roswell Street.
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Investigators determined that the driver of the Mustang was traveling southbound on Cobb Parkway, approaching its intersection with Roswell Street at a high rate of speed.
The traffic light for southbound Cobb Parkway was red.
The Marietta officers were also southbound on Cobb Parkway, approaching the red light and were nearly stopped for the light when their patrol vehicle was struck violently from behind.
After striking the patrol vehicle, the Mustang spun out of control and struck the rear of a Toyota Prius driven by a sixty-year-old Marietta man.
According to the public information release, “Both officers had to be extricated due to the damage to their patrol vehicle.”
The Mustang’s driver and both officers were transported to Kennestone Hospital with serious injuries.
“We are grateful to report that both officers have since been released from the hospital,” McPhilamy wrote.
The Mustang’s driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has not yet been released from the hospital.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator J. Henderson at 770-794-5384. While charges related to this crash are anticipated, they have not yet been taken.
About the City of Marietta
The City of Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County. The latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau puts the population of the city at 60,867 which makes it the second largest city in Cobb County by population, smaller only than the newly incorporated City of Mableton.
Here are a few quick facts from the Census Bureau
| Population | |
| Population estimates, July 1, 2023, (V2023) | 62,769 |
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2023) | 61,073 |
| Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2023, (V2023) | 2.8% |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2020 | 60,972 |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2010 | 56,579 |
| Age and Sex | |
| Persons under 5 years, percent | 6.0% |
| Persons under 18 years, percent | 20.7% |
| Persons 65 years and over, percent | 14.2% |
| Female persons, percent | 51.3% |
| Race and Hispanic Origin | |
| White alone, percent | 45.3% |
| Black or African American alone, percent(a) | 30.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) | 1.3% |
| Asian alone, percent(a) | 2.1% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) | 0.0% |
| Two or More Races, percent | 8.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) | 18.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent | 42.4% |
| Population Characteristics | |
| Veterans, 2018-2022 | 2,377 |
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2018-2022 | 17.2% |
| Housing | |
| Housing Units, July 1, 2023, (V2023) | X |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2018-2022 | 46.2% |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2018-2022 | $376,400 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2018-2022 | $2,050 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2018-2022 | $569 |
| Median gross rent, 2018-2022 | $1,372 |
| Building Permits, 2023 | X |
| Families & Living Arrangements | |
| Households, 2018-2022 | 24,403 |
| Persons per household, 2018-2022 | 2.39 |
| Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2018-2022 | 79.1% |
| Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2018-2022 | 24.3% |
| Computer and Internet Use | |
| Households with a computer, percent, 2018-2022 | 97.2% |
| Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2018-2022 | 91.3% |
| Education | |
| High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2018-2022 | 88.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2018-2022 | 45.8% |
| Health | |
| With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2018-2022 | 6.7% |
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent | 21.6% |
| Economy | |
| In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2018-2022 | 67.6% |
| In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2018-2022 | 61.1% |
| Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 282,938 |
| Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 2,324,868 |
| Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 492,100 |
| Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 2,099,654 |
| Total retail sales per capita, 2017(c) | $34,643 |
| Transportation | |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2018-2022 | 27.3 |
| Income & Poverty | |
| Median household income (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022 | $67,589 |
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022 | $40,767 |
| Persons in poverty, percent | 12.8% |
| Businesses | |
| Total employer establishments, 2022 | X |
| Total employment, 2022 | X |
| Total annual payroll, 2022 ($1,000) | X |
| Total employment, percent change, 2021-2022 | X |
| Total nonemployer establishments, 2021 | X |
| All employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 3,152 |
| Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 1,993 |
| Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | S |
| Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 505 |
| Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 2,146 |
| Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 193 |
| Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 2,443 |
| Geography | |
| Population per square mile, 2020 | 2,602.0 |
| Population per square mile, 2010 | 2,451.4 |
| Land area in square miles, 2020 | 23.43 |
| Land area in square miles, 2010 | 23.08 |
| FIPS Code | 1349756 |
