Boy Critically Injured In Four Wheeler/Car Accident at Dowelltown

A fourteen year old Smithville boy was critically injured Sunday afternoon when he pulled out in front of a car on a four wheeler at Dowelltown.
Central dispatch received the call at 12:36 p.m.
Trooper Allen England of the Tennessee Highway Patrol would not release the name of the boy because he is a juvenile, but WJLE has been told by other sources that he is Caleb Gingerich.
According to Trooper England, 62 year old Joe Johnson of New Home Road, Smithville was traveling east on East Main Street in Dowelltown in a 2005 Lincoln LS when the Manco 90 cc four wheeler pulled out in front of him from a field of tall grass on the south side of the road. The ATV made impact with the right front corner of the car. Trooper England said Johnson could not see the ATV in time because of the tall weeds and he was unable to avoid the collision.
Neither Johnson nor his wife Marie, who was a passenger with him, were injured. The boy was critically injured. According to Trooper England, the boy was thrown from the ATV. Both he and the four wheeler were knocked back into the grassy field.
DeKalb EMS transported the boy from the scene to a helicopter landing zone at the intersection of Highway 70 and Dry Creek Road. The boy was airlifted and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care where at last report he was in critical condition.
Others on the scene were members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.