Speeding and alcohol certainly do not mix. Police suspect that both were involved in a crash that left one man dead and his passengers and another driver injured.
The fatal car accident occurred near Strawberry Plains late last week. A 26-year-old man was driving a car with two other passengers. He apparently lost control of the vehicle, crossed a median and hit a semi head-on.
He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car. He died at the scene. His passengers, ages 22 and 16, respectively, sustained injuries and were taken to a local hospital. According to WBIR, the passengers were wearing seatbelts, which may have saved them from more serious injuries. Their conditions were not immediately released after the crash. They are apparently cousins and are from Dandridge.
The 54-year-old driver of the tractor trailer, which was hauling wire for Multi Group Logistics, is lucky to have escaped serious injury. Due to the impact of the crash, the tractor trailer flipped over and caught fire, but he managed to free himself from the wreckage. A video posted to WBIR’s website shows emergency crews responding to the scene. The totaled semi truck appears badly burned. The truck driver, who is from out of state, was treated for minor injuries at UT Medical Center and released.
Police say that they suspect alcohol and speeding were factors in the accident, but have not elaborated. The driver who died was from Springfield.
Source: WBIR, “Alcohol, speeding suspected in late night fatal crash,” May 4, 2012