Woman killed in I-75 police chase in Dooly County identified

DOOLY COUNTY, Ga. - A high-speed chase that began in South Georgia ended in gunfire early Friday morning, leaving one woman dead and a deputy injured, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

What we know:

The GBI says the pursuit began shortly after 2 a.m. on April 4, when Cook County deputies attempted to pull over a Cadillac sedan for speeding over 100 mph on Interstate 75. When the driver refused to stop, the chase continued northbound through multiple counties.

The Turner County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit, which came to a dramatic end near Exit 109 in Dooly County. Deputies used a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver to disable the fleeing vehicle.

As officers approached the car, the driver allegedly opened fire, striking one of the deputies. Law enforcement returned fire, fatally wounding the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The injured deputy was transported to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover. 

Update:

The GBI identified the woman who was killed as 57-year-old Paige M. Newsum of Bradenton, Florida, on April 8. No other information was released. 

What's next:

The GBI has taken over the investigation at the request of the Turner County Sheriff’s Office. Once completed, the case will be handed over to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.