An elderly woman was airlifted from the scene of a two vehicle traffic accident just before noon Wednesday on Highway 56 south at the intersection of South College Street.
Central dispatch received the call at 11:30 a.m.
Trooper Darrell Knowles of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 81 year old Mattie Brandon of Capshaw Road, Smithville was north on Highway 56 in a 1996 Nissan Sentra and was attempting to turn left onto South College Street when she crossed into the path of a southbound 1981 Jeep, driven by 34 year old William Dozier of Lascassas. Passengers of the jeep were 33 year old Sharla Dozier, 9 year old Kensington Dozier, and 6 year old Brycen Dozier.
According the Trooper Knowles, the jeep overturned after impact and came to rest off the west side of the highway. A passerby stopped to help get the Dozier’s out of their vehicle.
Brandon’s car spun counterclockwise upon impact and came to rest off the east side of the highway. She is believed to have suffered head and leg injuries.
Mr Dozier suffered some minor cuts but the other members of his family were apparently uninjured. They later went to the hospital by private vehicle to be checked out.
Brandon was airlifted from the scene by a Life Force helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Traffic was blocked for a period of time.
In addition to Trooper Knowles and Life Force, others on the scene were members of DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Smithville Police Department, and the Short Mountain Highway and Main Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, who helped set up the helicopter landing zone and were on standby in case of fire. Neither of the vehicles caught fire but there was a fuel spill from the jeep.
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