A tragic accident on Rocky Top Road in Cocke County claimed the life of a North Carolina man last Saturday. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), 58-year-old Dennis Sewell operated an articulated dump truck carrying road mix as part of roadway construction efforts when the vehicle backed over the edge and overturned, rolling halfway down the mountain, per WVLT.
The crash, which required a coordinated response from multiple agencies, occurred just before 9 AM, as Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball reported, and the THP is currently leading the investigation into this incident. Sewell, who hailed from North Carolina, reportedly lost control while backing up, leading to the fatal fall, and the authorities confirmed that the truck came to rest halfway down the steep terrain. "Constructing a better roadway" was the task before the tragedy struck, as per WVLT.
Per WATE, the THP described how the truck began to overturn after backing over the edge, tumbling down the mountain before coming to a halt. This event marks a solemn reminder of the inherent dangers of construction work, particularly when operating heavy machinery in challenging environments.
Initial reports provided by THP and shared by WBIR indicated that the dump truck, filled with road mix, was actively contributing to improvements on Rocky Top Road at the time of the accident. Sewell's death in the crash was confirmed by officials Sunday, the day after emergency teams and first responders had been dispatched to the scene.
