Oak Ridge Today

Police investigate crash involving riding mower on South Illinois

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The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a pickup truck and a riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a pickup truck and a riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department is investigating a crash that appeared to involve a pickup truck and riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue on Thursday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2 p.m. Thursday in the northbound lanes of South Illinois, coming into the city just south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road. [Read more…]

For sale: Pine Ridge property with panoramic views

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A large ridge top tract of land that features panoramic views and was once proposed as the site of a Target retail development is now for sale. The land, which is also known as The Summit, is on Pine Ridge along South Illinois Avenue between Scarboro Road/Lafayette Drive and Centrifuge Way. It's pictured above on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A large ridge top tract of land that features panoramic views and was once proposed as the site of a Target retail development is now for sale. The land, which is also known as The Summit, is on Pine Ridge along South Illinois Avenue between Scarboro Road/Lafayette Drive and Centrifuge Way. It’s pictured above on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A large ridge top tract of land that features panoramic views and was once proposed as the site of a Target retail development is now for sale.

It’s not clear how the property, which was cleared and graded more than a decade ago, might be used. There have been inquiries about multi-family apartments, single-family homes, and industrial uses, said Tom Tuck of TNBANK, which is based in Oak Ridge and now owns the property.

The land, which is also known as The Summit, is on Pine Ridge along South Illinois Avenue between Scarboro Road/Lafayette Drive and Centrifuge Way. It’s on the ridge top on the right side of the road as you head up the hill toward Centrifuge Way leaving Oak Ridge and driving to Knox County.

TNBANK foreclosed on the property in February. The previous owner was Revis Family LLC, according to Anderson County property records. [Read more…]

Officer injured, children taken to hospital after fugitive flees from police

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An Oak Ridge Police Department officer was injured in a crash and children were taken to the hospital after a fugitive crashed a car as he fled from police on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

An Oak Ridge Police Department officer was injured in a crash and children were taken to the hospital after a fugitive crashed a car as he fled from police on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

An Oak Ridge Police Department officer was injured in a crash and children were taken to the hospital after a fugitive crashed a car as he fled from police on Wednesday, authorities said.

The ORPD learned that a known felony suspect was in the area just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.Shortly after they received the information, officers located the vehicle that they believed contained the fugitive and they attempted to conduct a traffic stop near the intersection of South Illinois Avenue and Woodland Terrace.

But the driver refused to stop, entered the Panera Bread and Aubrey’s Restaurant parking area and proceeded through the lot at an unsafe rate of speed, striking at least one other vehicle, the city said.

The fugitive, Khristoff Lee, was initially a passenger in the vehicle, but he forced the female driver to switch seats with him upon seeing officers, the press release said. [Read more…]

Rezoning map shows possible grocery, retail stores south of AMSE

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A rezoning map for an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, shows that a grocery or large retail store could be built on the 7.4 acres south of American Museum of Science and Energy. The map also shows three smaller retailers or restaurants are possible. AMSE is to the north of the proposed grocery or large retail building.

A rezoning map for an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, shows that a grocery or large retail store could be built on the 7.4 acres south of American Museum of Science and Energy. The map also shows three smaller retailers or restaurants are possible. AMSE is to the north of the proposed grocery or large retail building.

 

A rezoning map shows a grocery or large retail store could be built on the property south of American Museum of Science and Energy.

The rezoning map shows the grocery or retailer could be 55,000 square feet, set back from South Illinois Avenue and next to Badger Avenue. But no prospective tenant has been publicly announced yet.

Also shown on the rezoning map, which was filed for an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission meeting in October, are three smaller possible retail or restaurant buildings of about 4,000 to 7,000 square feet.

The rezoning was requested by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC for the 7.4 acres south of AMSE along South Illinois Avenue between South Tulane Avenue and Badger Avenue. That property was once part of the AMSE property and owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, but it has since been transferred to the City of Oak Ridge and then to TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC.

The rezoning was approved, with a few contingencies, by the Planning Commission on October 19, and it’s been referred to the Oak Ridge City Council, presumably for the Monday, November 13 meeting. [Read more…]

Council to consider engineering contract for pedestrian improvements on Turnpike, Illinois

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The Oak Ridge City Council on Thursday will consider an engineering contract of roughly $300,000 for pedestrian improvements on Oak Ridge Turnpike and South Illinois Avenue.

Under the resolution to be considered by Council, the $298,800 engineering services contract would be awarded to Kimley-Horn of Nashville.

The estimated budget for the entire project, including both engineering and construction, is about $975,811. The work is being funded mostly with a Tennessee Department of Transportation Multimodal Access Grant of $927,021.40, Oak Ridge City Engineer Roger Flynn said in a May 24 memo to City Council members. The grant money will be allocated in three phases during a three-year period.

A 5 percent match of $48,790 is required, Flynn said. [Read more…]

Crash update: Girl expected to come home soon, mother out of ICU

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The seven-year-old girl injured in a fatal two-vehicle crash on South Illinois Avenue last week is expected to come home in the next few days, and her mother is out of a hospital’s intensive care unit, a relative said Friday.

On Wednesday, Jason Taylor of Kingston, who is the great-uncle of the seven-year-old, said his great-niece was out of the ICU and in a regular room resting with her grandmother. In another update on Friday, he said the girl is fully awake, and talking well. The first thing she said when she woke up Sunday was: “I’m hungry, and I’m thirsty,” Taylor said.

“Our beautiful seven-year-old little angel is recovering slowly but surely!” Taylor said Wednesday. “She sustained quite a few injuries but is alert, talking, and eating! God protected this child in this (horrific) accident without a doubt. A full recovery is expected but with a long road ahead! Thank you for the update and please continue to pray for all families that were involved!”

Taylor said his niece, Tabitha Douglas, 26, is out of the ICU. Douglas is the mother of the injured girl. On Tuesday, the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville had reported that Douglas was still in critical condition. [Read more…]

One in critical condition, two discharged after fatal crash by UT Arboretum

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One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Corryton woman remains in critical condition at a Knoxville hospital and two people have been discharged after a fatal two-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge on Friday, officials said.

Tabitha Douglas, 26, is in critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, the hospital said Tuesday.

Douglas was driving a sedan at the time of the crash, which was reported at about 2:47 p.m. Friday at Commerce Park Drive, which is across from the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue.

A passenger in the sedan, Ashley Blalock, 30, of Knoxville, died. [Read more…]

Authorities identify adults injured, killed in Friday’s crash

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One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Authorities have identified the three adults injured and one adult killed in Friday’s two-vehicle crash near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue.

Killed in the crash was Ashley Blalock, 30, of Knoxville. She was a passenger in a sedan driven by Tabitha Douglas, 26, of Corryton, who was injured in the crash. Also in the vehicle was a 7-year-old Corryton girl. The City of Oak Ridge said the Oak Ridge Police Department will not release the name of the juvenile, who was also injured.

The other vehicle involved in the crash was a sport utility vehicle. The two people in the SUV were also injured. They were driver Celia Sparks, 78, and passenger Jeffrey Sparks, 52, both of Knoxville.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The crash was reported at about 2:47 p.m. Friday at Commerce Park Drive, which is across from the Arboretum. [Read more…]

One person dies, four injured in two-vehicle crash near UT Arboretum

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One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One person died and four people were injured in the two-vehicle crash near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 2:47 p.m. Friday at Commerce Park Drive, which is across from the Arboretum.

The two vehicles involved were a sedan and a sport utility vehicle, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

Three people were inside the sedan: two adults and one child. The adult passenger was killed. The adult driver and child passenger were injured.

Two adults inside the SUV were injured, the city said.

All of the victims were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Two were taken by UT Lifestar medical helicopters and two by ambulance, the city said. The extent of their injuries and current conditions are unknown. Their identities haven’t been released. [Read more…]

Two medical helicopters respond to crash near UT Arboretum

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Two medical helicopters responded to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017. One helicopter is visible just to the left of the road sign in the median above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Two medical helicopters responded to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017. One helicopter is partially visible just to the left of the road sign in the median above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:40 p.m.

Two medical helicopters responded to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Friday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2:45 p.m. Friday. The first helicopter, a UT Lifestar helicopter, departed at about 3:20 p.m., just as the second one approached to land on South Illinois Avenue.

It’s not clear yet how many vehicles or occupants were involved. [Read more…]

Updated: South Illinois re-opens after crews clean up diesel from truck crash

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South Illinois Avenue remained closed early Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, after about 100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the road following a crash involving a dump truck and two vehicles at Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road in south Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

South Illinois Avenue remained closed early Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, after about 100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the road following a crash involving a dump truck and two vehicles at Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road in south Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 2:40 p.m.

South Illinois Avenue re-opened Friday afternoon after being closed for about six hours to clean up about 100 gallons of diesel fuel that spilled onto the road following a crash involving a dump truck and two vehicles at Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road in south Oak Ridge.

The fuel was spread out over about 100 yards, or roughly the length of a football field.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department dumped sand to contain the fuel, which was spread across the five-lane roadway, and city workers and equipment, including from the Oak Ridge Fire Department, helped sweep it up with help from several vehicles, including a sweeper.

An environmental cleanup company was responding to help with the cleanup and dispose of the waste, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 7:55 a.m. Friday. The Oak Ridge Police Department, which investigated the crash, announced that the road had re-opened at 1:47 p.m. [Read more…]

Roads slippery as more snow falls; NWS advises against travel

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More snow fell in Oak Ridge on Friday night, and parts of many roads, including Pellissippi Parkway going into Knox County, were slippery. Pictured above is South Illinois Avenue at Weigel’s gas station and convenience center just before midnight on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

More snow fell in Oak Ridge on Friday night, and parts of many roads, including Pellissippi Parkway going into Knox County, were snow-covered and slippery.

Before midnight Friday, sections of roadway were clear on Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue in central Oak Ridge, but many side streets, including heavily traveled roads like Tennessee Avenue and New York Avenue, were covered by a layer of snow. Other snow-covered roads included Tulane and Rutgers avenues, and Providence and Robertsville roads.

The National Weather Service in Morristown advised people to stay off the roads, unless travel is absolutely necessary. [Read more…]