THP Investigates 6-Car Accident; 1 Person Killed, 16 Involved in Crash
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is conducting an extensive investigation into a six-car crash that killed one person and sent five others to mid-state hospitals on Sunday. Work to complete the analysis of the crash could take another week. The THP’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is overseeing the investigation. Charges could be filed based on the outcome.
Sixteen people were in the six vehicles involved in the crash. The crash occurred around 5:40pm on I-40 westbound near the 234 mile marker in Wilson County. An earlier crash in the same area had slowed traffic. Preliminary analysis leads investigators to believe that the failure to stop by several vehicles was a factor in the second, fatal crash.
Killed in the crash was Martisha A. League of Smithville (DOB 4-27-76). She and four other people were in a 2000 Pontiac Montana mini-van. It is still unclear who the driver of that vehicle was. Vehicle occupants who suffered injuries were:
* Victoria Dyer of Smithville (DOB 4-23-81), who was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center by helicopter;
* Ryan K. Lyons of Smithville (DOB 9-1-78), who was transported by ground to Summit Medical Center in Hermitage and
* James Evans of Smithville (DOB 6-20-76), who was transported by ground to University Medical Center in Lebanon.
* A fourth person in the mini-van was not seriously injured and did not require transport.
The second vehicle was a 2005 Dodge Stratus driven by Katherine R. Wolski of Knoxville (DOB 12-17-65). She was taken by ambulance to Summit Medical Center.
The third vehicle was a 2000 Isuzu Trooper driven by Dana C. Ragan of Kingston Springs (DOB 5-19-58). Ragan was transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The fourth vehicle was a 2001 Ford F-150 pickup. Three Murfreesboro men were in that truck. None was injured. The driver was Hugo Amaro.
The fifth vehicle was a 1994 Cadillac driven by an Antioch man, Charles A. Privara. He was not injured.
The sixth vehicle was a 2000 Ford Windstar mini-van driven by Amber D. Martin of Dickson. Four people, including three children, were passengers in that van. None was injured.