Oak Ridge Today

Clinton Highway closed as THP investigates fatal crash

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Clinton-Highway-Crash-West-Wolf-Valley-Road-Feb-21-2015

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department closed off Clinton Highway between West Wolf Valley Road and Hiway Drive in south Clinton as the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated a fatal crash on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:05 a.m.

CLAXTON—Clinton Highway was closed Sunday evening as the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated a fatal crash, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday between West Wolf Valley Road and Hiway Drive in south Clinton. Hiway Drive is near the end of a series of shops, businesses, and churches in south Clinton.

Note: See newer story based on a THP fatal accident report here.

The curvy section of Clinton Highway remained closed as of 11:50 p.m. Sunday. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies were turning traffic around at East and West Wolf Valley Road in Claxton and at Hiway Drive, which connects to Blockhouse Valley Road in south Clinton. [Read more…]

Clinton man has minor injuries after SUV rolls upside down into creek

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Clinton-Highway-Crash-SUV-Creek-Feb-16-2016

A crew from Clinton Highway Wrecker Service works to pull a Mercury Mountaineer out of a creek alongside Clinton Highway after a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLAXTON—A Clinton man had minor injuries after his sport utility vehicle went down an embankment and rolled into a creek after a two-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The crash was reported at 8:09 a.m. Tuesday near the bridge over Bull Run Creek in Claxton.

Authorities said Jessica D. Parton, 28, of Powell, was driving east in a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup on Clinton Highway in the right lane when she hydroplaned and lost control while crossing the bridge. Parton began to spin out, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a preliminary report.

Donald H. Henderson, 69, of Clinton, was driving a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer behind Parton, and he tried to get into the left lane to avoid her, the THP said. [Read more…]

Swift rescue by nephew saves life of Clinch River fisherman

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

TWRA logo for news release

Note: This story was last updated at 8:50 p.m.

NORRIS—A fisherman who fell overboard on the Clinch River below Norris Dam on Sunday afternoon has his nephew to thank for quick action that undoubtedly saved his life, officials said.

Cecil Branscom, 70, of Dublin, Virginia, and his nephew Scott Branscom, 48, of Knoxville, launched their boat at Peach Orchard Access Area on the Clinch River on Sunday afternoon and headed upstream toward Norris Dam. When they reached the weir dam at around 2 p.m., they prepared to begin fishing when the boat’s engine hit a rock in the water, sending Cecil overboard from the front of the vessel into 48-degree water.

Scott Branscom managed to get his uncle back into the boat. Cecil Branscom was wearing several layers of clothing that was saturated from the frigid water, and he was not wearing a life jacket, the press release said. [Read more…]

No major problems reported after snow Friday; Key Springs Road temporarily closed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Edgemoor-Road-On-Ramp-Feb-12-2016

The Edgemoor Road exit ramp off South Illinois Avenue is pictured above after snow fell on Friday morning, Feb. 12, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Authorities reported no major problems when snow fell in Oak Ridge and Anderson County on Friday morning, although some area school districts closed.

Key Springs Road in north Oak Ridge was temporarily closed at the request of the Oak Ridge Police Department after a tractor-trailer got stuck coming up the steep, curvy road.

It wasn’t necessarily weather-related, and it wasn’t clear how long the road would be closed, said Pat Fallon, Oak Ridge Public Works division manager.

Four trucks with snow plows were out clearing roads and spreading salt. No problems had been reported for at least an hour, Fallon said at about noon Friday. [Read more…]

Former Anderson County commissioner, teacher indicted in alleged church theft

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

James Michael Cox

James Michael Cox

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:15 a.m. Feb. 12.

A former Anderson County commissioner, commission chair, and teacher has been indicted on one count of theft over $60,000 from a church in Rocky Top, authorities said.

James Michael “Mike” Cox surrendered at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Thursday afternoon, Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said.

Cox was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on the Class B felony on February 2.

The theft of about $100,000 is alleged to have occurred from Longfield Baptist Church in Rocky Top, the former Lake City, between June 1, 2011, and December 1, 2014, Clark said. [Read more…]

TBI investigation of Oak Ridge apartment death still open, ongoing

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Thomas Stephen "T.S." Thrasher

Thomas Stephen “T.S.” Thrasher

The investigation of the death of an Oak Ridge man in an apartment in December 2014 remains open and ongoing, a state official said Monday.

Thomas Steven Thrasher Jr., 29, also known as “T.S.,” died December 8, 2014. He was found dead in a second-floor apartment when the Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a report of a possible intruder at about 4:40 a.m. that Monday at 615 West Vanderbilt Drive.

Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said that month that a criminal investigation was under way, but there had not been an arrest and no charges had been filed. Clark said at the time that an autopsy had been performed by the Anderson County medical examiner.

“As a result of the circumstances, the Oak Ridge Police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have been conducting a criminal investigation,” Clark said. “There has been no arrest or charges filed at this time.” [Read more…]

Maine man pleads guilty to murder charge in OS drug deal that ended in death

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Scott-Benjamin-Pike-Nov 21-2014

Scott Benjamin Pike (November 2014 photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

A 32-year-old Maine man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated robbery in the death of an Oliver Springs man after a drug deal in May 2011.

Scott Benjamin Pike, of Lewiston, Maine, entered the guilty pleas in Anderson County Criminal Court on Friday, January 29.

Pike received a 20-year sentence on the second-degree murder charge, a Class A felony, and a 12-year sentence on the aggravated robbery charge, a Class B felony. There is no probation on either count, according to court records. The sentences will run concurrently. He will receive credit for time served.

Pike was indicted on a first-degree murder charge on February 7, 2012, by the Anderson County Grand Jury. Also indicted were Ronny Blake Hamrick of Oliver Springs and Tristin Jane Dayon of Lewiston, Maine. A first-degree murder charge could include a premeditated killing or an unlawful death that occurred during a robbery or attempted robbery, according to the indictments. [Read more…]

Knoxville man dies in single-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A 72-year-old Knoxville man died in a single-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway in Anderson County on Tuesday, authorities said.

Harvey R. Weldon was driving north in a 2009 Ford Focus on Clinton Highway near Lonesome Dove Road at about 6:36 p.m. Tuesday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a preliminary report.

“While negotiating a curve to the left, the vehicle traveled off the east side of the roadway, entered a ditch, and struck a culvert,” the report said. [Read more…]

Most significant issue during snow last week was traffic jam on I-75

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Turnpike-Administration-Road-Snow-Plow-Jan-20-2016

Roads in Oak Ridge are becoming slipperier as snow continues to accumulate. Above, an Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Administration Road on Wednesday morning, Jan. 20, 2016. Heavy snow continued to fall more than 1.5 hours later. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The most significant issue during the snow and winter weather last week was the closure of Interstate 75 in Campbell County, which caused a long traffic jam on Wednesday, January 20, authorities said.

Traffic was very light Friday evening when the snow started again as most everyone stayed home, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“As an update on our weather-related calls, from Wednesday, January 20, through Sunday, January 24, we responded to 18 non-injury traffic crashes, two crashes with injury, 12 disabled or abandoned vehicles, and five calls where there were some traffic hazards,” Lucas said. “There were a number of cars in the ditch or that ran off the road where we did not respond due to weather conditions.” [Read more…]

Only one serious crash in AC during Wednesday snow; part of I-75 closed for 5 hours

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff Patch

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. [Read more…]

Four young adults indicted in alleged plot to rob a woman for rent money

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Raymond R. Gray

Raymond R. Gray

Four young Oak Ridge adults have been indicted in an alleged plot to rob a woman for rent money.

The alleged armed robbery occurred on Highland Avenue at about midnight April 1, 2015, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Ben Higgins said in warrants filed last year in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

The victim said three men who had their faces covered robbed her at gunpoint and fled in a black Chevy sedan, the warrants said. The victim followed them north on Highland Avenue.

ORPD Officer Ray Steakley located the car at the intersection of State Route 61 and State Route 62, and he pulled over the car on Midway Road in Oliver Springs.

Christopher D. Ramsey

Christopher D. Ramsey

One of the defendants, Whitney T. Stewart, 22, of Oak Ridge, was driving, Higgins said. The other three co-defendants—Raymond R. Gray, 21; Christopher D. Ramsey, 21; and Tevin M. Springs, 20; all of Oak Ridge—were in the car, Higgins said.

The four were arrested after the alleged robbery last year and charged with aggravated robbery and criminal conspiracy.

They were indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on Tuesday, January 5. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge man indicted for reckless homicide

Posted at
By 2 Comments

William Brent James

William Brent James

An Oak Ridge man has been indicted for reckless homicide in the death of another man in November 2014.

William Brent James, 19, of Warrior Circle, was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on January 5 and arrested Friday, January 9, by Oak Ridge Police Department Detective Kevin Craig.

The indictment alleged James “unlawfully and recklessly” killed Michael William James on or around November 27, 2014. It wasn’t immediately clear if the two men are related.

James has an arraignment scheduled for January 29.

He remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Wednesday afternoon. His bond has been set at $25,000, according to jail records.

More information will be added as it becomes available.