The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal Sunday morning crash near the intersection of Hillside Road and Pennsylvania Avenue as the Oak Ridge Electric Department replaces a utility pole hit by the driver’s SUV.
Note: This story was updated at 11:17 a.m.
A driver died after an SUV hit a utility pole on Hillside Road at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
The driver is not being identified until family members have been notified, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.
Before the crash, an ORPD officer had observed the white SUV traveling at high speed near Highland Avenue and Hillside Road, a press release said.
“The vehicle accelerated away from the intersection and proceeded eastbound on Hillside Road,” the release said. “A short time later, the officer discovered the vehicle had lost control and struck a utility pole in front of 104 Hillside Road. Additional officers, as well as Oak Ridge Fire Department and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and found the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, to be deceased at the scene.
“The investigation remains ongoing; no further details will be released at this time.”
Later Sunday morning, police officers had the road closed near the intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue as they investigated the crash and the Oak Ridge Electric Department replaced the utility pole. The crash did not knock out power, but city crews temporarily turned off electricity to a few homes as they installed the new pole.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Helen Standifer says
It doesn’t say the cops were chasing him but I’m sure they were. According to scanner reports they were chasing him. They know it wasn’t worth his life so they are changing the story. You can take my word for it.
Mike Mahathy says
It is not the fault of police.
Jason Allison says
Wasn’t Oak Ridge police, its the same guys who killed Kennedy and Hofa. All it would have taken was a simple pull over as law states.
BCCollier says
Regardless, I know for a fact that the family has been notified, so why aren’t they releasing the name of the victim? Could it be because of his skin color? Do the police want to be protected from profiling? Because it seems pretty obvious when things are so hush-hush sometimes (cough, cough), and when another tragedy happened last week and there was no problem releasing the name of the victim. Not trying to insult or hurt Colton’s family in any way by any means at all, but what I’m trying to say is that this victim and victim’s family deserves the same respect as anyone else does. “Not in OUR town” doesn’t apply to TRAGEDIES when trying to make our community look so perfect and quaint.
Cindy McCullough says
Name has been released as of 5:45, I think I just saw.. http://oakridgetoday.com/2014/02/10/police-id-driver-died-sunday-morning-crash/
Jason Allison says
Yes it was, I would have to say that john printed that information as soon as he knew it was OK to do so. People don’t understand that just because the family has been notified that doesn’t mean he got the OK to run the story.
Jason Allison says
Yeah, skin color, you called them out! Just because the family has been notified that doesn’t mean John can go ahead and print the story. He has a responsibility to report correct information when he KNOWS it is OK to do so. To suggest this had something to do with race is just ignorant.