No one was injured after an SUV with several hundred rounds of ammunition was hit by a pickup truck on Melton Lake Drive on Saturday, overturned, and caught fire. (Photos courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)
No one was injured, but several hundred rounds of ammunition started exploding after a sport utility vehicle returning from a Wounded Warriors shooting event was hit by a pickup truck on Melton Lake Drive, overturned, and caught fire, authorities said.
The accident happened at about 5:05 p.m. Saturday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.
A southbound Toyota pickup truck crossed the center line and hit the SUV, which was driven by Jeff Douglas. The SUV hit the guardrail, spun, and overturned, the ORFD said.
“Douglas and his passenger Greg Snodgrass were returning from a Wounded Warriors shooting event and had several hundred rounds of ammunition in the vehicle,” a statement said. “They were having difficulty exiting the vehicle, when immediately another driver came to their aid. Mike Ramirez was able to get one of the doors open on the SUV and assist both Douglas and Snodgrass out of the vehicle just before it caught fire. The vehicle was about 50 percent involved with fire and the ammunition was exploding as fire engines arrived on the scene.”
The ORFD said all three occupants refused treatment and declined to be transported by ambulance.
Douglas told firefighters: “We are grateful that Mike (Ramirez) stop and helped us out of the vehicle. I’m not sure we could have gotten out on our own before the vehicle caught fire.”
Melton Lake Drive was closed for almost two hours.
rennin1 says
We came across the police and fire truck that arrived to assist with this accident. We were travelling south on Melton Lake Drive and had to turn around at the entrance to Rivers Run. Kudos to Oak Ridge Today for posting this story so soon after the incident.