Paulding County Woman Monica Bennett arrested in crash that injured deputy

Paulding County sheriff's deputies have arrested a woman and charged her in a crash that injured one of their own.

The deputy was responding to a civilian driver's 911 call reporting an apparent drunk driver on Dallas-Nebo Road near Smith Ferguson Road early Sunday.

While responding to the call, the suspect allegedly slammed into the passenger side of the cruiser as the deputy swerved to avoid being hit head on.

"She actually drove off the road into the ditch on the opposite side of the roadway, nearly striking a civilian vehicle. She nearly struck the first patrol car coming back on the roadway and did strike the second patrol car," Paulding County Sheriff's Cpl. Ashley Henson said.

One door was seared off and a wheel was yanked from its mount, according to police.

"He thought he was going to die," said Henson.

The driver of the other car, 28-year-old Monica Lindsay Bennett of Dallas, is charged with DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving with no headlights.

The deputy survived with only a few cuts and scrapes. He intends to be back at work on Wednesday.

"It was very startling, very disturbing to know that someone was that impaired that they could nearly strike and kill another motorist," said Henson.

Bennett is currently out on bond.