A single-vehicle crash occurred last Thursday in Claiborne County, Tennessee, due to black ice. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that an SUV traveling north on State Route 63 lost control at approximately 7:45 a.m. after encountering an icy patch. According to WVLT, the vehicle went off the road, striking a mailbox and a rock embankment. An 8-year-old was killed, and three others, including a 6-year-old, sustained injuries.
Preliminary findings by the Tennessee Highway Patrol indicate that charges are pending against the driver, 62-year-old Herman Vandergriff, and the passenger, 58-year-old Rose Dixon. The Fall Branch THP office stated that there are currently no indicators of a crime, as reported by WBIR. The investigation remains ongoing pending the completion of toxicology reports.
The incident underscored the role of seatbelt use in the crash. The two adults were not wearing seatbelts, while the children were secured in booster seats with their seatbelts fastened. The Tennessee Highway Patrol noted these details as significant factors in the preliminary investigation.
Grief counselors have been made available to students and staff at Ellen Myers Primary School, where the young victim was enrolled. As per school administrators and WATE, this is the third student fatality in Claiborne County Schools this school year. The condition of the 6-year-old injured in the crash, as well as the status of the adults involved, has not been released.
