Oak Ridge Today

No injuries in minor school bus crash on Northwestern

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School Bus Crash on Northwestern Avenue on Nov. 10, 2015

No one was injured in a minor crash involving an Oak Ridge school bus and a pickup truck on Northwestern Avenue near West Gettysburg Avenue after 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. Pictured above from left are bus driver Walter Erbaugh, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Nathan Stinnett, and First Student Location Manager Diane Gibson. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

No one was injured in a minor crash involving an Oak Ridge school bus and a pickup truck on Northwestern Avenue on Tuesday afternoon.

The sideswipe collision occurred near West Gettysburg Avenue at about 4 p.m. Tuesday. It involved Bus 1950 from Woodland Elementary School.

There was only one student on the bus at the time, and another bus picked her up.

It’s been 20 months since an Oak Ridge school bus was last involved in a crash. On March 5, 2014, a car crashed into the front of a school bus that had stopped to pick up students at Hillside Road and Highland Avenue. No students were injured in that crash either.

Tuesday’s collision was two houses down from the site of a June 3, 2013, crash between a school bus and car at the intersection of Northwestern and West Gettysburg avenues. No children were reported to be injured in that crash either.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Police investigate alleged animal cruelty but find no evidence to file charges

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The Oak Ridge Police Department has investigated a report of animal cruelty after a social media post said a dog had allegedly been smothered by its owner, but there is no evidence that allows charges to be filed, authorities said Tuesday.

The ORPD received the complaint of possible animal cruelty on Sunday, November 8, a press release said. Officers investigated the complaint and conducted interviews with a complainant, an employee of a local veterinary clinic, and the owner of the dog, who claimed her pet was being treated for severe heartworm issues, the press release said.

“The owner of the dog advised that her pet was very ill, and she put it down for compassionate reasons,” the release said. “Results of the investigation are being forwarded to the Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office for further review. However, per Tennessee Criminal Law (TCA 39-14-212/Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal), no evidence exists at this time which allows officers to file charges against the owner of the dog.”

No other information is available at this time, the City of Oak Ridge said in the press release.

ORPD: Power outage in west Oak Ridge may affect traffic lights

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There was a power outage on the west end of Oak Ridge on Monday morning, and it could affect traffic lights, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

In a text alert, the ORPD said utility workers are aware of the outage.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Police negotiate, but man shoots himself with shotgun after traffic stop

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Note: This story was updated at 9:10 a.m.

A 45-year-old man shot himself with a shotgun after a traffic stop on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Tuesday night and after the Oak Ridge Police Department tried to negotiate with him, authorities said.

The initial call came in at about 10:26 p.m. Tuesday, November 3. ORPD officers were dispatched to the area near the intersection of the Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue, after Oak Ridge Fire Department personnel reported three cars that appeared to be racing westbound from that location.

One officer stopped a 1999 Toyota pickup truck on the Oak Ridge Turnpike west of Louisiana Avenue for a speed violation, an ORPD press release said. The 45-year-old male driver, and sole occupant of the truck, exited the vehicle brandishing a 20-gauge shotgun, officers said.

The male subject then refused to comply with the officer’s repeated orders to place the weapon on the ground, and he proceeded to walk away from his vehicle while holding the barrel of the shotgun under his chin, the ORPD said. Numerous officers responded to the scene to assist in containing the male subject, who continued to pace back and forth on the sidewalk near his vehicle, the Police Department said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Turnpike closed Tuesday night as police, fire units investigate shooting incident

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Oak Ridge Turnpike Incident Nov. 3, 2015

A stretch of Oak Ridge Turnpike was closed west of Louisiana Avenue late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning as police and fire units investigated a shooting incident. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:13 a.m.

A stretch of Oak Ridge Turnpike was closed west of Louisiana Avenue late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning as police and fire units investigated a shooting incident.

A medical helicopter landed at Big Turtle Park in west Oak Ridge and could be seen taking off at about 11:40 p.m. Emergency workers reported a man with a gunshot wound to the face, although authorities hadn’t released details about the shooting as of early Wednesday morning. Update (9:13 a.m.): Police have since said the gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

All four lanes of the divided highway remained closed until past 2 a.m. Wednesday, and the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department were both on the scene early Wednesday. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department helped provide traffic control east of the incident near United Grocery Outlet at Louisiana Avenue on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning. Most traffic was taking a side street route down West Lincoln Road. [Read more…]

Updated: Missing child alert canceled; girl found safe

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Chloe Michelle Sullivan

Chloe Michelle Sullivan

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:08 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Police Department has issued a missing child alert for a two-year-old girl who was reportedly taken from her home on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday evening update from the ORPD: The missing child alert has been canceled. Chloe has been found and is safe. Thank you to everyone who assisted and shared our post!

The ORPD said Chloe Michelle Sullivan was taken from her home in Oak Ridge at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 3. Chloe is described as a two-year old female Caucasian, two feet tall and 25 pounds, with brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink skirt and a white T-shirt with a square pattern on the front, a press release said.

Drake Sullivan, the child’s noncustodial birth father, is described as a Caucasian male, 20 years old, 5’8″ and 130 pounds, with brown hair and black eyes. He allegedly took Chloe, according to the release, and he is believed to be in the company of his father, Shane Sullivan, described as a Caucasian male, 39 years old, 6’01” and 215 pounds with brown hair and black eyes; and Shane Sullivan’s girlfriend, Jessica Meeks, Caucasian female, no further description available.

All four were last seen in a silver 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, TN license plate V2318T, and are believed to possibly be traveling to Slidell, Louisiana, the press release said. [Read more…]

Apartment resident pulled to safety during fire, treated for smoke inhalation

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East Tennessee Avenue Fire Oct. 28, 2015

An apartment resident on East Tennessee Avenue was pulled to safety and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after his food caught fire on a stove on Wednesday, October 28, authorities said.

 

An apartment resident on East Tennessee Avenue was pulled to safety and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after his food caught fire on a stove on Wednesday, October 28, authorities said.

The resident, identified as Earnest Hurd, was cooking supper when he fell asleep at approximately 10:19 p.m. Wednesday, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. People passing by saw smoke coming from the apartment and called 911 dispatchers, who then dispatched the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Police Department.

ORPD was the first to arrive and saw Hurd lying on the floor of the apartment, the press release said. ORPD opened the door and pulled the occupant to safety just as ORFD arrived. [Read more…]

Knoxville man dies after pickup crash on Bethel Valley Road

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Bethel Valley Road Crash Chevy Oct. 27, 2015

Victor Gujmuit, 25, of Knoxville, was driving westbound in this green Chevy S10 pickup truck on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2015, when he lost control and collided with an eastbound Ford Ranger pickup. He was treated at the scene and taken to UT Medical Center, where he later died. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3 p.m. Oct. 29.

A Knoxville man died after he was ejected from his pickup truck in a multi-vehicle crash on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the driver as Victor Gujmuit, 25, of Knoxville.

The ORPD said Gujmuit was driving west on Bethel Valley Road in a 1997 Chevrolet S10 pickup when he lost control and entered the inside eastbound lane of the four-lane roadway. His truck collided with a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup driven by Kurt Marcotte, 52, of Knoxville. Gujmuit was ejected onto the roadway in the outside eastbound lane and hit by a 2003 Dodge pickup truck driven by Raymond Lenoir, 57, of Powell, authorities said.

Gujmuit and Marcotte were treated at the scene and taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where Gujmuit later died, the ORPD said. Police have not determined the cause of his death. [Read more…]

Two injured, roadway closed after two-pickup crash on Bethel Valley Road

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Bethel Valley Road Crash Chevy Oct. 27, 2015

A green Chevy S10 pickup truck was involved in a two-vehicle crash with injuries on Bethel Valley Road between Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 7:10 p.m.

Two people were taken by ambulance to the hospital after two pickup trucks crashed on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon.

Preliminary reports said one person was trapped and one was ejected. But the nature of their injuries weren’t immediately clear.

Authorities said the road could be closed several hours between Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue as officers investigate and reconstruct the crash Tuesday evening.

The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately clear. It also wasn’t clear which direction the two pickup trucks were traveling when they collided. One pickup was a green Chevy S10 and the other was a blue Ford Ranger. [Read more…]

Clinton man charged with trespassing after crashing car at Y-12, fleeing from officers

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Timothy D. Preston

Timothy D. Preston

A 34-year-old Clinton man was charged with aggravated trespassing after allegedly driving through the east gate at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Thursday, crashing near a parking lot area, and then fleeing on foot into a heavily wooded area inside the nuclear weapons plant, authorities said.

The crash occurred at about 5:52 a.m. Thursday after a person, later identified as Timothy D. Preston, 34, of Clinton, drove through the east gate of Y-12 near Scarboro Road.

Y-12 security and Oak Ridge police officers responded immediately and established a containment area inside and outside the perimeter of the facility, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

Preston was taken into custody at about 7:40 a.m. and transported to the Methodist Medical Center, where he was treated and released for minor injuries, the press release said. He was interviewed at the Oak Ridge Police Department and then transported to the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton, where he was charged with aggravated trespassing, trespassing by motor vehicle, felony vandalism, and driving on a revoked license (third offense). [Read more…]

Y-12 reopens after man drives through gate, crashes into parking lot

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (File photo)

 

Officials at the Y-12 National Security Complex have reopened the plant to employees following a temporary closure early Thursday morning after a person drove through the east gate of Y-12 at Scarboro Road and crashed his vehicle near a parking lot area.

The crash occurred at about 5:52 a.m. Thursday.

Y-12 security police officers responded and subsequently apprehended the man, who was then arrested by the Oak Ridge Police Department, a press release said. [Read more…]

Y-12 entrances closed due to ‘security situation’

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Y-12 National Security Complex Scarboro Road Entrance

The Scarboro Road entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above. (File photo/March 2014)

Note: This story was last updated at 10 a.m.

All entrances at the Y-12 National Security Complex have been closed due to a “security situation,” officials said Thursday morning.

Y-12 posted the announcement on social media.

“Entrance to the site will not be possible until further notice,” the announcement said.

A press release from the National Nuclear Security Administration said officials at Y-12 are responding to a law enforcement issue that has affected access to Y-12.

“The facility and its employees are safe and secure, and all entrances to the plant are closed,” the release said. [Read more…]