Charges are pending in a fatal collision between a motorcycle and pickup truck on Blockhouse Valley Road in Claxton on Tuesday, authorities said.
The crash, which killed a motorcyclist, was reported at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, September 26, at the intersection of Blockhouse Valley Road and Lost Ridge Road, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a fatality report.
The report said Joshua Williams, 29, of Clinton, was riding a 2015 Suzuki GXS motorcycle west on Blockhouse Valley Road when a 2004 Nissan Titan pickup truck driven east by Travis Darwin, 35, of Oak Ridge, turned left onto Lost Ridge Road in front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle ridden by Williams hit the front right side of the truck driven by Darwin, and Williams was thrown off the motorcycle, the THP said.
Williams was wearing a helmet, but he was killed, the report said.
The pickup truck continued north on Lost Ridge Road for several hundred feet before stopping in the roadway, the THP said.
Darwin was not injured, but the THP report said drugs or alcohol are suspected. Tests have been requested, which is routine in fatal crashes. Darwin was not wearing a seat belt, according to the report.
No citations were issued, but criminal charges are pending, the report said.
Blood tests were also requested for Williams, the motorcyclist, although he is not suspected of using alcohol or drugs, according to the THP report.
Darwin had three passengers in his vehicle, and none of them were injured. They are Tera Bolinger, 25, of Powell; Hannah Ingram, 27, of Powell; and John D. Ingram, 27, of Powell. Drug and alcohol use is not suspected by the passengers, and tests were not requested for them, the THP said.
The intersection of Blockhouse Valley Road and Lost Ridge Road in Claxton is a short distance across the Clinch River from Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge.
The crash was investigated by THP Trooper Aaron McGhee.
Leave a Reply