Trooper Home After Being Struck on I-85

ATLANTA - The Georgia State Patrol trooper who was injured when he was hit while helping a stranded motorist on Interstate 85 Thursday afternoon was released from the hospital Friday evening. Trooper Brandon Kight, 29, had been in the Atlanta Medical Center for observation since the incident.

A spokesperson for the Georgia State Patrol said Trooper Kight stopped to help Donald Moore, 51 of Newnan, who was stranded on the side of the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 with a flat tire. Both Moore and Trooper Kight were in the inside emergency lane when a pickup truck hit a Nissan Rogue, sending it spinning out of control and right into Moore’s stranded van.

Moore suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center where he died Friday afternoon. The driver of the Nissan, 59-year-old Marcia Saurman of San Jose, Cal., was taken to Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

The driver of the pickup truck, 28-year-old Paul Beaube Burgess of Marion Junction, Ala., was not injured in the crash. He was taken to the Coweta County Jail on charges of DUI (prescription drugs), Serious Injury by Vehicle, and Following Too Closely. Additional charges are expected to be filed early next week.

Troop Kight is said to be currently resting at home with his family.