Vickie Gay Gilmore
Note: This story was last updated at 10:51 a.m.
An Oak Ridge woman has been charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence after a fatal crash that killed a 37-year-old mother on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Friday, authorities said.
The three-vehicle crash was reported at about 9:47 p.m. Friday, May 6, at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue.
When they arrived, officers attempted to immediately extricate the driver of one vehicle, Christy Duncan, 37 of Harriman, and her 4-year-old daughter from their vehicle, which was severely damaged, according to the Oak Ridge Police Department.
Both victims were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where Duncan later succumbed to her injuries, the press release said. It said the 4-year-old is being treated for injuries. Another driver, Jason Watson, was uninjured.
Officers arrested the driver of the third vehicle involved in the crash, Vicky Gilmore, 61, of Oak Ridge. She reportedly drove erratically just prior to the crash, at one point driving on the sidewalk and striking a street sign near Kroger’s, as well as running the red light at South Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said.
Gilmore was taken to the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton, where she was charged with driving under the influence, violation of the implied consent law, vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain a lane of travel, and reckless driving. ORPD and the Clinton Police Department assisted in the investigation, which remains open and ongoing.
A cashier working at a gas station near the intersection said she saw lights go by in a blur, with a vehicle “just flying” right before the crash Friday night.
“The next thing I knew, I heard a ‘ka-boom,'” said the cashier, who did not want to be identified by name.
A customer thought something had blown up in the store, the cashier said. She called 911.
Oak Ridge Turnpike was closed between Illinois and Louisiana avenues from just after 10 p.m. Friday until almost 2:30 a.m. Saturday, according to text alerts sent out by the Oak Ridge Police Department.
Gilmore has a prior arrest from March 23, 2010, for driving under the influence and possessing drugs without a prescription, according to Anderson County jail records.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Joseph Lee says
Please do not drink and drive.
Thank you.
Levi D. Smith says
It won’t be long until the Red Light Camera supporters will be claiming that a red light camera would have prevented this.
Dave Smith says
Your comment seems to me to be more than a little insensitive.
On Sunday there was a little girl in Harriman who wasn’t able to celebrate Mother’s Day with her mother – nor will she ever again do so – because Vicky Gilmore of her own volition chose to drive while drunk.
I don’t think this article is appropriate venue to express your sensibilities about traffic law enforcement cameras.
Joseph Lee says
Thank you Mr. Smith.
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’ve stated before that I’ve personally witnessed and STOPPED 3 drunk/impaired drivers in Oak Ridge alone. But since then I remembered 2 more drunks for a total of 5. They are EVERYWHERE.
It can be as simple as honking your horn, or blocking their vehicle so they can’t leave. I did that at a gas station on the east end of OR. When this man got out of his car he could barely walk, I pulled behind his SUV and turned my car off. He came falling out of the door with a CASE of beer, got in his car and waited for me to move. Finally, he got out and asked what was going on. I told him my car wouldn’t start. I was on the phone with the police, but he thought I was talking to my husband. He offered to get in and try to start it! I said no, my husband said to leave it where it was. After about five minutes, he pulled UP on the walkway in front of the gas station and maneuvered his car and onto the Turnpike he went. I told the dispatcher he was driving and I followed him until they arrived on Warehouse Rd.. Anyone can call the police and follow a car until they show up. Motion to them to WATCH the road or to pull over. Use your imagination!!
If they are driving as erratic as witnesses said Gilmore was driving, knowing me, I honestly believe I would have bumped her car to make her stop. I wish to God I had been out that night. Who knows? You could save the life of a beautiful mother or maybe your own child might end up in the path of this selfish drunk.
Tragically, it’s too late for Mrs. Duncan. But maybe not the next person if we take ACTION instead of JUST being a witness.
If anyone feels this post is inappropriate, PLEASE let me know and I will delete it. I am very passionate and adamant about his subject. I mean no harm to Mrs. Duncan’s precious family or her loved ones.