Cobb officer injured in traffic accident

Cobb County Police are investigating a wreck involving one of their own Thursday after a traffic accident on Atlanta Road sent a veteran officer to the hospital.

Officer D.J. Mangold was traveling southbound on Atlanta Road near Austell Road around 5:20 p.m. when he attempted to make a U-turn to go northbound on Atlanta Road, said Sgt. Dana Pierce. At that time, Mangold was struck in the driver door by Marion Thomas Woodward, 61, who was traveling southbound in the inside lane in a maroon 2001 Pontiac Bonneville.

The airbag in the Bonneville deployed and Woodward sustained minor airbag burns, but was not seriously injured, Pierce said. However, Mangold was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital complaining of neck and back pain.

No one has yet been cited in the crash. Police continue to investigate, Pierce said.