A Tennessee Highway Patrol captain is on the mend after a harrowing head-on collision earlier this week while she was responding to tornado damage. Captain Stacey Heatherly expressed gratitude for divine protection and the outpouring of community support following the accident.
"First, my family and I thank and appreciate the hands and protection of the good Lord above," Heatherly said in a statement obtained by WVLT. "There isn’t a doubt, that I was covered in His divine protection, additionally, I must express with my whole heart; the love, appreciation, and thankfulness I have for you and your prayers, thoughts, and well wishes."
The crash occurred on State Highway 62 in Morgan County as Heatherly, who was driving westward to respond to areas ravaged by a recent tornado tragedy, her vehicle, a cruiser, was hit by a pickup at around 7:15 p.m., according to a preliminary report from THP. A 2022 Ram pickup, which was traveling in the opposite direction, failed to maintain its lane and crossed into the path of Heatherly's cruiser causing a serious crash, as reported by WATE.
Officials have not yet released details about the driver of the pickup or if any charges will be filed in the case, the incident report detailed how the truck crossed the center line and struck her SUV forcefully, as per WBIR.
