There were nine non-injury traffic crashes and one wreck with injuries in Anderson County during the Wednesday snowstorm, authorities said.
The one crash with injury was on Clinton Highway (U.S. Highway 25W) near White Loop Road at about 6:33 p.m. Wednesday. It was the only serious crash during the snow, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said. The Sheriff’s Department responded along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and the Claxton Fire Department.
The THP said the road was covered by snow and slush when a 2005 Ford Freestar driven west by Gregory Brantley, 34, of Detroit, slid sideways across the road into the path of an eastbound 2016 Toyota 4Runner driven by Lauren Holder, 28, of Clinton.
The Freestar driven by Brantley hit the front of the 4Runner driver by Holder, the THP said in a preliminary report.
Brantley’s vehicle came to rest off the road on an embankment, and Holder’s vehicle stopped in the road.
Brantley was injured, the THP said. Holder was not, and neither was Brantley’s passenger, Jameel Johnson, 38, of Romulus, Michigan. All three were wearing seat belts, according to the THP.
Lucas said there were five disabled vehicle calls on Wednesday, as well as several other reports of cars in the ditch or stuck in the snow.
He said the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County were closed for some five hours due to crashes and jackknifed semi-trucks. This caused traffic to back up through Anderson County into Knox County.
“During this time, we patrolled the interstate to check on motorists to see if there were any issues,” Lucas said. “The Anderson County Rescue Squad assisted us in this as well. There was one incident where we escorted a car to the Rocky Top exit, where EMS was called to check on someone having a medical issue. The person was transported to the hospital with a non-emergency problem.”
Anderson County went to its inclement weather plan, and deputies patrolled in four-wheel-drive vehicles.
“We are still using these in areas of the county where the roads remain snow-covered,” Lucas said Thursday.
“Other than the traffic jam on the interstate, all was fairly calm,” he said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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