Deputy and Arrested Woman Found Dead in Tennessee River After Patrol Car Crash

The tragic accident occurred when Deputy Robert J. Leonard accidentally drove into the river, leading to the deaths of both himself and Tabitha Smith.

• Deputy Robert J. Leonard and Tabitha Smith were found dead after Leonard's patrol car crashed into the Tennessee River.
• The accident is believed to have occurred when Leonard, unfamiliar with the area, missed a turn while transporting Smith.
• Leonard had only been with the Meigs County Sheriff's Office for two months and was responding to his first arrest.
• Smith, a 35-year-old mother of two, was remembered by friends as a happy and outgoing person.
• An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities considering the crash an unfortunate accident.

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