presented by: Gary Massey
A recent Sevier County crash claimed two lives when an SUV collided with a church van, according to a recent news report from WATE.
The crash occurred on Chapman Highway, not far from Zion Hill Church Road. The fatal car crash was triggered when the driver of the SUV crossed the center line and collided head on with the church van. The van was shoved off the road by the force of the crash and came to rest in a ditch, where it caught fire, according to investigators. Several of the van’s passengers were able to climb out, but a couple remained trapped inside.
Two people in the church van, a 16-year-old girl and the 45-year-old youth pastor, lost their lives in the crash. Overall, there were twelve people in the van, both teens and adults. The group was returning to its church in Blount County, having just completed a religious retreat in Gatlinburg.
The driver of the SUV suffered critical injuries in the accident and was airlifted to a local hospital, where he is still receiving intensive care. Investigators reported that narcotics were found in his vehicle and he may face criminal charges if he survives his injuries, according to law enforcement.
Fifteen-passenger vans pose particular accident risks, because their larger size and weight makes them handle differently than passenger cars. If you or someone you love has been injured in a van crash, the dedicated Chattanooga car accident lawyers at Massey & Associates, P.C. can help. Call us today at (423) 396-0720 for a free and confidential case evaluation.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
