Georgia deputy dies during vehicle chase

LONG COUNTY, Ga. - A Georgia deputy was killed in the line of duty early Thursday morning in Long County, officials said.

According to the Long County Sheriff's Office, deputy Sheldon Whiteman, 43, was chasing a suspect vehicle when he reportedly lost control of his cruiser and plowed into the woods along Highway 57.

Deputy Sheldon Whiteman, 43, was chasing a suspect vehicle when he reportedly lost control of his cruiser and plowed into the woods along Highway 57, officials said (Source: Long County Sheriff's Office).

He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Deputy Whiteman had been with the Long County Sheriff's Office for four months and leaves behind a wife and three children, Sheriff Craig Nobles says. He was also a former Chatham County sheriff's deputy.