A driver who allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue caused a five-vehicle crash that injured one person on Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2016, authorities said. Three of the crashed vehicles are pictured above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note:Â This story was updated at 1:15 p.m. May 2.
A driver who allegedly ran a red light caused a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike that injured one person on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The crash was reported at about 2:11 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue/Lafayette Drive.
A westbound pickup truck allegedly ran a red light and caused the chain-reaction crash, authorities said.
The one person injured had minor injuries, according to emergency personnel. Also, one of the drivers who was involved said he thought his shoulder might be injured.
Officers detoured traffic around the crash for about 30 minutes as the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and at least two tow trucks worked to treat those involved and to remove their vehicles from the roadway. The roadway was mostly cleared by about 2:40 p.m. Saturday.
Police said the driver of the pickup truck was cited.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
A GMC Sierra pickup truck and a Honda sedan were involved in a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue on Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2016. Above, a towing crew prepares to remove the pickup truck. Members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department are pictured behind the vehicles. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
This Ford Mustang convertible was hauled away from a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue on Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The driver of this Kia Optima LX said he thought his shoulder might be injured after a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2016. The driver said he was turning left from Lafayette Drive onto Oak Ridge Turnpike when a pickup truck ran a red light. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Kia Forte pictured above appeared to have front-end damage after a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue/Lafayette Drive on Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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Joseph Lee says
That sounds like a good place for a traffic camera. I’m glad no one was killed.
Mike Mahathy says
Wait Joe. Wasn’t there a red light camera there at one point but a former councilperson and friends kept crying about it until removed. Didn’t they tell us accidents were more likely with traffic cameras?
Joseph Lee says
Mr. Mahathy, as noted above, I’m glad no one was killed. Thank you.
Mike Mahathy says
Let’s not forget, Oak Ridge does not have a problem with speeding, or running red lights. We were told this last week in comments right here.
Sam Hopwood says
Yes Mike, and you and Joe are just not listening. Come in from the cold. It was ALL about revenue. Council finally awoke and voted 4-3 to eliminate the scammers.
Sam is against the scammers.
Sam is smart.
Be like Sam!
Matt Bailey says
Sam should have worn his helmet more when he played football.
Then Sam would realize any and all ideas about increasing revenue are open to discussion.
Sam would realize that red light money was used for Blankenship Field.
SAMs confused. He and TB want us to be like Farragut, who has county police, schools, and fire dept. But they have cameras, so it confuses em. Sam enjoyed OR CITY schools himself, but doesn’t want today’s kids to have the same benefits.
Don’t be like Sam. Be happy. Be positive TRY to help find solutions.
Sam Hopwood says
It’s All about the revenue, not safety. I’m sorry you can’t see that. The schools are fully funded, even the super says that in the budget he will present to the school board. Ain’t that right Angie?
Don’t be in denial.
Don’t be like Matt!
Matt Bailey says
Again Sam your lack of creativity is killin me. Spend the money on a multitude of projects and make the schools safer at the same time.
Maybe a new senior center. Maybe an 8th lane for rowers. Oh wait- surely after the crowds at the marina, full restaurants and hotels TWICE this month- you can’t be against that can you? Or maybe you can. Sadly.
Sam Hopwood says
Settle down Matt. if you had kept up with the comments on OR Today, you would know that I support another lane for rowers and even a property tax increase if necessary to fund it. BTW, the scameras are not going back in, just so you and Joe and Mike know. Have a good one. 🙂
j
Matt Bailey says
Sam, you just got crossed off the TB good list-be careful, you’ll wind up kicked to the curb like her other supporters of the Heitman conspiracy, the chief of police conspiracy, school system, mr Howe, etc!!
You know those “scameras” aren’t watching everyone-just you!
Sam Hopwood says
Wrong again Matt. You see, Trina and I can disagree without being disagreeable. That’s a foreign concept for you and Joe and Mike.
Now, watch out for those speeders, it’s a jungle out there… :).
Joseph Lee says
Sam, if you want anything from Ms. Baughn you had better hurry.
She’ll be gone soon. Thank you.
Mike Mahathy says
And in the meantime speeders and red light runners enjoying their LAW BREAKING while continuing to put forth the notion that red light cameras are an illegal scam.
Matt Bailey says
Sam old boy, I’m pretty proud anytime you link me with those two. They actually try to do something positive for the city and schools. Your buddy Trina, the queen of disagreeable, has done nothing but embarrass herself and our city. Your failure to distance yourself from her, as most oak Ridgers have done, saddens many of us.
Unfortunately, your attempt to avoid the serious question of continual speeding concerns and the resulting safety concerns around the schools reinforces that.
Surprise us Sam. For once, propose something unique-a solution.
Joseph Lee says
If Sam is so smart maybe he can explain what the problem is with generating revenue from those that break our traffic laws. Every penny counts, right?
Levi D. Smith says
I saw car wrecks at this intersection when there was a red light camera there, so it is foolish to think that adding a red light camera or speed camera will magically end all car accidents. The speed cameras were just a scam to make money for Red Flex in Australia.
Philip W Nipper says
I think a community and its police force should use everything at their disposal to help in the effort to protect its citizens and its visitors and its travelers. Those who drive, those who walk or those who bike, etc. Certainly having a camera at this intersection or any intersection does not in itself stop accidents from happening. A camera can however help in an investigation to see who, if anyone, was at fault, and help in ticketing offenders and could actually keep some drivers from exceeding the posted speed limit. I think some folks may have missed the benefits by focusing on other subjects associated with redflex or others who provide such equipment. I believe Oak Ridge needs to get over this bickering and officially re-address procuring the tools our police can and should use to “protect and serve”.
Tracy Powers says
I think we’ve got a bigger problem in this city that needs addressing immediately, even more than revenue. (The red-light cameras have been decided on and removed.)
I’m talking about impaired drivers, young and old alike texting and yakking on their cellphones, drunks driving without a care in the world. Pill heads fumbling around behind the wheel, meth heads scratching while trying to keep their tires on the road. Repeat offenders, known to the police and neighbors to be driving without a license, without insurance. ALL need to be charged with everything the law will allow.
Vicky Gilmore, the disgusting, impaired killer of that beautiful mother, Christy Duncan, COULD and SHOULD have been stopped by any one of the witnesses that saw her erratic driving.
I have stated before that I have personally witnessed and STOPPED 3 drunk/impaired drivers in Oak Ridge alone. But since then I remembered 2 more for a total of 5. It can be as simple as blocking their vehicle so they from leavr in their car, seen to it