Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bill Garner was struck and killed by a vehicle while at the scene of a single-vehicle crash near mile marker 164 on I-85 at about 7:15 pm.
He was assisting the occupants of the involved vehicle when another vehicle lost control, entered the median, and struck him. Deputy Garner was transported to St. Mary's Sacred Heart where he succumbed to his injuries.
The man driving the vehicle that struck him was charged with homicide by vehicle.
Deputy Garner had served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for one year. He had previously served with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office and the Pendegrass Police Department for over 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-0EBB34DF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Garner gave the Franklin County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carnesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Garner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Robert Garner is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Franklin County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Robert Garner's cause is highlighted.
How William Robert Garner Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Robert Garner is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Franklin County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
