Trooper hailed as hero for saving woman, children from fiery crash

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Georgia State Trooper Lindsey Barber is being labeled a hero by her colleagues after she pulled a woman and children from a fiery crash in Coweta County.

"I think she did the job she was trained to do and she did a very good job," said Sgt. Katie Thompson. "She's not quite a rookie anymore, but she's gotten out of school in the last year."

The Georgia State Patrol told Channel 2's Chris Jose that Mario Anderson, 31, was driving 118 mph on northbound Interstate 85 with a woman and three children in the car with him.

The State Patrol said that Anderson refused to stop.

At one point, officials said, Anderson got off at Exit 41 toward Newnan and re-entered the interstate headed in the opposite direction.

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The chase ended when Anderson lost control of the car in a construction zone, hit a barrier and collided with a pickup truck, Thompson said.

Thompson arrived a few minutes after the crash and assisted the victims.

"When I arrived on scene, she (Barber) actually had used all of her fire extinguisher and we had to use mine to make sure the fire was completely out," said Thompson.

Anderson is charged with numerous offenses, including DUI, endangering a child and reckless driving.

The State Patrol said the woman and the three children are recovering at local hospitals.

The driver of the pickup truck was not hurt.

Cox Media Group