In August, 2019, a nearby accident in Sevierville, Tennessee left at least one life forever changed. According to trusted Knoxville news source, WVLT Channel 8 News, and police reports from the scene of the accident, two vehicles were driving North on Tennessee State Route 66 (SR-66) when they collided, killing one of the drivers instantly.
A preliminary report from the Sevierville Police Department revealed that the fatal auto accident took place near Winfield Parkway. The drivers of the vehicles, a white Ford F-150 and blue Nissan Altima, were seen side-by-side when out of nowhere their days took a turn for the worst.
According to reports, one of the drivers, a middle-aged man who drove the Ford truck, drifted out of his lane and partially onto the sidewalk, before eventually making its way back onto the road and striking the car in the lane to its right. Luckily, the nearby driver, a teenager who drove the Nissan, was not injured. However, that wasn’t the case for the driver who drifted…
After swerving and striking the car in the lane next to him, the Ford driver continued “across the median, traveling across three southbound lanes, [and] eventually driving through a guard rail and crashing into a utility pole.” WVLT goes on to say that he was “pronounced dead on the scene of the accident.”
Though the cause of the crash has yet to be released to the public, the Nissan driver did consent to a blood test that would later rule out driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Due to this test result, we can rule out DWI as a suspected cause of the crash.
So, what did happen then? Our team’s years of legal professionism and legal experience tell us there are multiple possibilities. From tired driving to texting behind the wheel, today’s roads are full of distractions waiting to happen. Let’s explore a few possible scenarios and how you can help prevent them should you ever find yourself in a similar situation on the road.
One possible cause of this accident is tired driving. Though it may not always feel like it, driving tired can be just as dangerous as driving intoxicated. Our team has handled several cases where a driver fell asleep or nodded-off at the wheel. Typically, this causes a brief state of shock when the driver realizes what’s happened, but by that point it could be too late.
More often than not, tired eyes and slowed reflexes leave drivers unable to respond quickly in an emergency situation, such as a crash. In this crash described above, it’s possible
(though not proven) that the Ford driver was falling asleep at the wheel, causing his drift onto the sidewalk before striking the Nissan in the next lane and eventually crashing into the metal utility pole.
Another plausible option is that the Nissan was driving too closely to the Ford, which could have made one or more of the drivers nervous. When vehicles become too close for comfort, drivers react instinctively. Unfortunately, their instincts don’t always do a good job of protecting them or those around them.
In this case, if the Nissan driver was swerving or was too close to comfort, the Ford driver may have started to inch over to make room. If he inched over too far, he may have found himself on the sidewalk, leading to a reactive swerve back into his original lane and eventually across the road into the metal utility pole.
One other common cause of road accidents that could have played a factor in this case is distracted driving (aka taking your eyes off the road). Sounds simple enough to avoid, right? Unfortunately, today’s drivers are some of the most distracted we’ve ever seen.
For example, texting while driving has skyrocketed to be one of today’s leading causes of auto accidents. Whether they’re checking a text, answering a call, or switching a song, distracted drivers run the risk of injuring themselves or someone else on the road in a matter of seconds.
Though we may never know the real cause of the crash detailed above, there’s at least one valuable lesson we’re certain we can take away from this terrible accident: be prepared.
We understand that drivers aren’t always able to divert from danger in time. But we want you to know that there are steps you can take to help ensure you’re safe behind the wheel, before even getting on the road. Not driving intoxicated or tired, putting your phone down, and buckling your seatbelt are all examples of simple ways you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
From all of us at G3 Help Me Law, we hope those involved in this tragic accident find peace. We also hope that sharing this story and a few quick tips will provide drivers and passengers everywhere with a new outlook on road safety. When we work together to understand the cause of an accident, we can better understand how to prevent it moving forward.
Looking for help after an accident? We’re here for you. Call at (865) 658-4012 to schedule your free, confidential case evaluation today.
After spending his secondary years of study at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, G Turner Howard III earned his BA at Tulane University. A member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he earned a Master’s and Doctor of Divinity at Andrews Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. He also served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of experience, his firm has helped clients receive millions of dollars for personal injury, and in many cases, much faster than they ever expected.
