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Alleged DUI driver hits officer patrol car after fatal motorcycle crash

Trenten Baldwin (Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office)
Trenten Baldwin (Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office)
By Ellen Eldridge
Sept 5, 2017

A 26-year-old man was arrested Monday on DUI and other charges after he hit a Marietta police patrol car with an officer inside, officials said.

Trenten Baldwin was jailed after being evaluated at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, Marietta police spokesman Jared Rakestraw said.

RELATED: Cobb sailor planned surprise visit home before fatal crash in Okinawa

The officer, who was investigating an early morning fatal crash on I-75 northbound just north of South Marietta Parkway, was hurt when Baldwin allegedly struck the patrol car with his BMW 328XI, Rakestraw said.

The officer, identified as Gwen Lewis, reported back to work Monday night, police spokesman Charles McPhilamy said Tuesday.

RELATED: Motorcyclist killed after crashing into MARTA bus

In that initial crash, a 2007 Honda Shadow motorcycle driven by 39-year-old Benjamin Clark of Acworth was traveling northbound on I-75 and collided with a 2016 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Dominique Higgs of Flowery Branch.

“The motorcycle then struck the center median wall and the driver was thrown from it,” Rakestraw said.

Clark was pronounced dead at the scene.

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