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Advertisement Funeral services held deputy killed on duty Deputy Cruz Thomas was son of Franklin County Sheriff Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A deputy, who was the son of a sheriff, was laid to rest Sunday. Hundreds attended Cruz Thomas' funeral at the Swails Center in Franklin County, N.C. After the service, a caisson and horses from the North Carolina Troopers Association led mourners. Two of the horses were part of the team that carried President Ronald Reagan’s coffin.The funeral was moved to the Swails Center to accommodate the hundreds of people who attended.Thomas was laid to rest at Bowers Memorial Gardens.He was the son of Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas.Thomas was killed in a wreck Wednesday night in a wreck while pursuing a traffic violator, Franklin County officials confirmed.PicturesThomas was killed in the wreck just before 9 p.m., the Georgia State Patrol confirms.The accident happened on northbound Interstate 85 near mile marker 164 in Franklin County, according to troopers.Thomas was traveling northbound on I-85 in the inside travel lane attempting to catch up to a traffic violator, according to troopers. An unknown tractor-trailer attempted to change lanes, causing the patrol car to travel into the grass median, troopers said.Thomas, lost control of the vehicle and traveled across both northbound lanes of I-85, according to trooper accounts.The vehicle began to overturn before hitting several trees, troopers said.Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jimmy Lecroy said, “It took the officers several minutes to get back to his aid for the simple fact of how the interstate is constructed -- how it's set up. We actually had one of our shift commanders that actually performed a medical CPR on his own partner and I know that's going to be a long process for that officer as well.”Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene, according to troopers.Cruz Thomas was a full time deputy in Jackson County, and he worked part time for his father.He leaves behind an 8-month-old daughter, Taliya. A trust fund has been set up at Northeast GA Bank for Taliya.