Two people from DeKalb County who were involved in a White County crash last week remain in the intensive care unit of Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
61 year Patrick Craig Woodside and 59 year old Susan Reynolds were seriously injured in a rollover accident on the Old Kentucky Road, about 50 feet north of the Smithville Highway intersection according to the Sparta Expositor. Both Woodside and Reynolds were airlifted to Erlanger.
The crash occurred at 4:04 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22
Sergeant Jimmy Jones of the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that Woodside and Reynolds were in a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe traveling south on Old Kentucky Road. Although Woodside owns the vehicle it wasn’t clear at the time of the crash investigation which of them had been driving. A witness reportedly told troopers that he had been following behind the vehicle for some time and noticed that it was “all over the road.”
The witness reportedly said that just before the crash, the Tahoe crossed over the centerline and narrowly missed hitting another vehicle head on. Woodside’s Tahoe merged back into the proper lane of travel but then began merging right, traveling off the right side of roadway just before the Smithville Highway intersection.
The Tahoe overturned, coming to final rest on its top, and both Woodside and Reynolds were unrestrained. Jones states that while they were not ejected, both were flung into the back of the vehicle, and troopers were unable to tell who was driving the vehicle when it crashed.
According to Jones, he believes that wearing their seat belts would have had a major impact on the severity of the injuries Woodside and Reynolds suffered.
Troopers say they do not know what caused the erratic driving. There were no signs of alcohol involvement, Jones reports.
Troopers are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
Trooper Cody Roberts is the crash investigator.
Along with THP, Cassville Volunteer Fire Department, Sparta-White County Rescue Squad, White County Emergency Medical Services and White County Sheriff Department also responded to the scene to assist, according to the Sparta Expositor.