One person died and nine people were injured when a Dodge Ram pickup truck backing up in the parking lot at Midtown Community Center caused a nine-vehicle crash after fireworks in Oak Ridge on Saturday night.
Note: This story was last updated at 12:17 p.m.
The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified James Robinson, 37, of Knoxville, as the man who died in the parking lot crash that killed one person and injured nine others at Midtown Community Center after fireworks on Saturday.
Robinson was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Lee Cromwell, 65, of Oak Ridge, as Cromwell backed his truck through the parking lot, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. Nine people were injured, and eight vehicles were hit by Cromwell’s truck, authorities said.
Robinson was critically injured in the crash, and he was taken by ambulance to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, where he later died, the press release said.
A family friend said Robinson, who was with his wife and two daughters, died a hero by pushing his oldest daughter Jaide out of the way of the way of the approaching vehicle.
Seven more patients were taken by ambulance from the scene to local area hospitals. One adult and two juvenile patients with non-life threatening injuries were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Four juvenile patients with non-life threatening injuries were taken to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, which is also in Knoxville. And two adults who were also injured were transported to Methodist Medical Center in personal vehicles.
Cromwell was not injured.
Police said several people were struck by Cromwell’s truck and others were hit by vehicles forcefully moved during the crash.
The crash was reported at about 10:23 p.m. Saturday, July 4. The Oak Ridge Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting that a vehicle had struck several vehicles and people in the parking lot at the Midtown Community Center, which is at 102 Robertsville Road. The Community Center, which is next to Oak Ridge Turnpike, was filled with spectators who had just watched the July 4 fireworks display across the street at Alvin K. Bissell Park.
Emergency personnel from the Oak Ridge police and fire departments were staged nearby due to the fireworks display, and they arrived less than a minute after the 911 calls were received, the press release said.
Oak Ridge police officers, assisted by Clinton police officers, reconstructed the crash scene with the use of electronic crash reconstruction equipment provided by the Clinton Police Department. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol also responded to the scene to assist. The Oak Ridge Fire Department provided scene lighting and inclement weather shelter for investigating officers during the reconstruction. Police and Fire Department personnel were on the scene until 4 a.m. Sunday. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time, the press release said.
A gofundme page has been set up by Ria Lively, who identifies herself as the best friend of Robinson’s widow, Julia, to help with Robinson’s funeral expenses.
See previous story here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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Sam Hopwood says
Very good coverage of this tragic event, John.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Sam. We’d like to extend our deepest sympathies to all those involved.