One dead in head-on collision near Union County line
Anderson County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to a two-car head-on crash on Andersonville Highway (State Route 61) near the Union County Line around 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, where one motorist was killed.
According to THP Trooper Steven Ward’s incident report 56-year-old James D. Gunter, Knoxville, was traveling east on Hwy. 61 when he attempted to pass a vehicle in front of him.
Gunter’s 2006 Chevrolet Corvette struck 65-year-old John B. Taylor’s, of Andersonville, Toyota 4-Runner head on in the Hwy. 61 west-bound lane.
Two Lifestar helicopters were called to the scene and both Gunter and Taylor were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where Gunter later died.
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office reported in a press release, “One vehicle was on fire and the driver had been pulled from the car by other motorists on the scene while the driver of the other vehicle was trapped and had to be extricated by fire and rescue personnel.”
Neither the Sheriff’s Office report, or Trooper Ward’s report, indicate which vehicle was on fire.
Ward’s incident report indicates Gunter may have been drinking and/or using drugs at the time of the accident.
Blood tests for both drivers were ordered — standard procedure for a fatal crash.
Neither driver was wearing a seat belt.
Along with ACSD and THP, Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Andersonville Fire Department all responded to the scene as did the two Lifestar air ambulances.
The roadway was closed for more than three hours while the crash was investigated.