The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the driver who died in a crash early Sunday morning after hitting a utility pole on Hillside Road near the intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the driver who died in a crash on Hillside Road early Sunday morning.
The driver was Hobert L. Mitchell, 32, of Oak Ridge, the ORPD said in a press release.
Mitchell was driving a white 2003 Nissan Murano registered to Jordan Jones, also of Oak Ridge, the release said.
Mitchell’s body was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where an autopsy was to be performed, and the investigation of this incident remains ongoing, the ORPD said.
The SUV driven by Mitchell hit a utility pole on Hillside Road near Pennsylvania Avenue at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
See previous story here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Annie Hendrix says
I find this story disturbing. In fact, it has the earmarks of a cover up. My son grew up with Hobert here in Oak Ridge. We knew Hobert had problems with drugs and that he’d spent time in jail, but he was also a son, a father, and a friend. Why would Hobert go up Hillside Drive at such a high speed unless he was being chased, and if so, why was he being chased? Are the police involved being investigated for possibly causing Hobert’s deadly accident? When a story sounds suspicious, it very often is. This was a needless death that should be thoroughly investigated with open accountability to the citizens whose taxes (and traffic fines) pay the ORPD salaries.
Sign me “Skeptical”
Kevin Rice says
People always put the blame on the police, Why did he not stop when the blue lights were turned on did he have something to run for, I,am sorry for the loss of life, But i don’t think we should put the blame on the Oak Ridge Police Dept.
Annie Hendrix says
It is not putting the blame on anybody to demand a thorough and impartial investigation. After all, this was a young man’s life. If he were your son, wouldn’t you demand as much? My son grew up with Hobert. They went to the same schools and played together as children. Hobert was a tender-hearted young man. Now he’s dead. His mother is beside herself with grief. Four small children no longer have a daddy. Police cars are equipped with cameras that show exactly what was going on inside and outside the car. It’s not that hard to investigate, but we as citizens need to care enough to expect the same accountability from our police as we expect from our doctors and teachers when it comes to the needless death of a young man.