Governor John Sevier Highway in Tennessee was the scene of a nighttime accident not far from Austin Park Lane involving three vehicles. Both lanes of traffic had to be closed for longer than five hours as police and rescuers on the scene worked to stabilize the injured and clear the roadway.

The crash occurred when a male driver crossed the center line and ran head on into a SUV traveling in the opposite direction. Upon impact, the SUV spun several times and was thrown into the path of a van, which landed in a nearby ditch. The male driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene and reportedly lived in a neighborhood not too far from the crash site. The passengers in the SUV were a 7-year-old boy who was seriously injured and a 4-year-old girl who suffered only minor injuries.

Three people were riding in the van at the time of impact, and all were transported to UT Medical Center for treatment. Two of the three were seriously injured, and the condition of the third passenger remains unclear. The police report indicated that the driver of the car that crashed into the SUV was also injured and could be facing vehicular homicide charges based on evidence that he was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.

Individuals who were the victims of a drunk driving accident may face a long road to recovery. Attorneys working with clients who were harmed in a motor vehicle accident may be able to help them build a solid case and negotiate for fair compensation.

Source: WBIR, “THP: Driver in 3-vehicle crash was under the influence“, Heidi Wigdahl, August 24, 2013