A 27-year-old Walland motorist was recently charged with vehicular homicide, assault, and reckless endangerment in connection with a deadly three-car crash on U.S. Highway 411 in Blount County. According to local authorities, the man was northbound on the roadway when he attempted to pass another motorist at a high rate of speed in the center lane. The 27-year-old apparently lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the southbound lanes where he struck two other automobiles. Sadly, a 72-year-old Tellico Plains woman was killed in the traffic wreck. A 76-year-old passenger in her car was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical center for treatment. Additionally, a 19-year-old Maryville woman was treated and released by Blount Memorial Hospital for injuries she purportedly sustained in the crash.
Local authorities stated all three victims were wearing a seat belt when the wreck occurred. The Walland man who stands accused of causing the fatal accident, however, sustained a number of avoidable wounds when he was ejected from his vehicle. The man was apparently released from the hospital the same day he was criminally charged.
The exact cause of the deadly collision is under investigation by the Traffic Safety Unit of the Blount County Sherriff’s Office. At this time, law enforcement apparently believes drugs or alcohol may have played a role in the fatal traffic accident. A spokesperson for local authorities stated toxicology results on the 27-year-old driver are still pending.
This tragic collision occurred on the same stretch of highway as a 2012 crash that killed 16-year-old Amelia Keown. Earlier this year, the Tennessee Senate unanimously passed “Amelia’s Law” in response to the wreck. The new law permits a judge to require individuals who are convicted of a crime involving drugs or alcohol to wear a monitoring device that regularly checks for substance abuse.
Regardless of the outcome in a criminal trial, the victims of a crash that was caused by a motorist who chose to get behind the wheel of an automobile while under the influence of alcohol or drugs should pursue civil action. In Tennessee, individuals who suffered an injury in a drunken driving accident may be entitled to recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Certain family members of someone who was killed in such a wreck may also be entitled to receive compensation associated with their loved one’s wrongful death. If you were hurt or a close relative was killed in a drug or alcohol-related crash, you should contact a skilled Eastern Tennessee attorney to discuss your right to recovery in greater detail.
If you were injured in a Blount County car accident that was caused by an impaired driver, please contact the Hartsoe Law Firm, P.C. through our website or call us today at (865) 524-5657.
Additional Resources:
Tellico Plains woman killed in wreck on U.S. 411 South, by Iva Butler and J.J. Kindred, The Daily Times
Driver charged in fatal crash: Walland man faces vehicular homicide, other charges, by Wes Wade, The Daily Times
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