Help Injured Smyrna Woman's Family Cover Her Medical Bills

Photo Credits: Baldwin Family/GoFundMe, Justin Ove

Friends, family, and coworkers of a woman who was seriously injured in a freak accident in Smyrna over three weeks ago are raising money to help cover future lost income and medical expenses for the family.

Officer Chris Graeff with the Smyrna Police Department told Patch on Dec. 1 that the accident occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of Windy Hill and Atlanta roads when a vehicle left the roadway along Dixie Avenue, rode the lower slope of the supports for the railway overpass, then drove off the overpass and hit two other vehicles.

According to the GoFundMe page for the Baldwin family, Deanna Baldwin suffered serious brain injuries as a result of the accident and has been in a coma ever since. Deanna’s sons Jonathan and Michael were in the car with her and also suffered injuries, the GoFundMe page says.

Baldwin is the orchestra teacher at Smyrna’s Whitefield Academy and has been the sole breadwinner for the family for a number of years due to her husband’s medical issues, the GoFundMe page says.

The fundraiser is looking to amass $30,000 to provide the Baldwins with help defraying their medical bills and to replace some of Deanna’s lost wages. So far, the fundraiser has generated $24,552.

If you would like to donate to the Baldwin family, please visit their GoFundMe page.

Smyrna police have identified David Wayne Ballard, 46, as the man they say was behind the wheel of the gray Mazda RX8 which caused the accident. Ballard was arrested in Smyrna at 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, Cobb County jail records show. He is facing one charge of misdemeanor reckless driving, according to Smyrna police and jail records.