ENORMOUS CRASH SCENE CAUSES PART OF HIGHWAY 111 TO SHUT DOWN
An accident which happened on Thursday, Sept. 18th at around 5:30 p.m. caused part of Highway 111 to be shut down.
A 2000 Freightliner carrying frozen chicken, driven by Charles Groce, 46, 1560 Wolf River Dock Rd., Albany, Ky. was traveling south on Highway 111 when it struck a 2001 Chevy S-10.
According to the accident report, the driver of the S-10, D.B. Garrett, 74, 1747 Parker Rd., Pall Mall was attempting to pull out from Old Hillcrest Drive when he pulled in the path of the tractor trailer. The freightliner struck Garrett in the left front and upon impact caused the tractor trailer to jackknife and go into the B&K parking lot striking a parked Pepsi trailer and four unoccupied vehicles.
Groce was transported by Pickett County EMS to Albany Hospital where he was treated and released. Garrett was airlifted by Air Evac to UT Knoxville because of the head injuries that he received. Clean up by the Byrdstown-Pickett Co. Volunteer Fire Department members along with TDOT workers lasted until 3:30 a.m. due to all the debris. A TEMA representative was also on the scene because of the massive diesel leakage.
THP Marty Philpot investigated the crash with assistance from the Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response team. The accident is still under investigation with possible charges pending for both drivers.