Cobb officer, Woodstock man injured in crash

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Cobb County police officer stopped in his patrol car near a construction scene was hit by a man who apparently didn't see the flashing lights.

Both men were transported to Kennestone Hospital, where they remained in stable condition Saturday evening. Police believe alcohol could have been a factor, and charges may be pending, said Sgt. Dana Pierce.

Officer R.E. Drew was stopped in the right, southbound lane of I-575 near the Bells Ferry Road bridge at the time of the incident, shortly before 11 p.m. Friday. Construction work required one lane of the highway to be closed, and the emergency lights on Drew's 2000 Crown Victoria patrol car were on, police said.

Just north of Drew's patrol car, a flashing DOT sign also alerted drivers to the road closure.

A black 1996 Ford F-250 operated by 43-year-old Carl Furstenwerth of Woodstock was traveling south on I-575 in the right lane, approaching the police car. The driver of the F-250 failed to change lanes to the left or to slow down. The front of the F-250 collided with the rear of the patrol car, Pierce said.

Both men sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries. Officer Drew sustained a wound in the back of the head due to his impact with the prison screen and the shotgun rack in his patrol car, Pierce said. He suffered a concussion in the incident.

"He doesn't remember the crash," Pierce said. "He was on the phone and he remembers that conversation, but nothing after that."