A pre-dawn crash outside Smyrna High School turned deadly Wednesday when a pickup lost control on Lee Victory Parkway and slammed into a pair of utility poles, killing the driver and tangling the morning commute around the campus.
Crash Shuts Down Key Routes Around School
Smyrna Police said the wreck happened a little before 5 a.m., when the truck hit two utility poles in front of the school. The driver died at the scene, according to WSMV. McWilliams Drive and the westbound side of Nissan Drive were shut down at Bulldog Drive while crews worked the crash and investigators documented the area.
Traffic Worries On Fast-Moving Lee Victory Parkway
Lee Victory Parkway (State Route 102) is a fast-moving corridor that runs directly past Smyrna High, and neighbors have been sounding the alarm as new development stacks up along Bulldog Drive. A planned Kroger and other nearby businesses have already sparked debate over school-area congestion and access, with TDOT reiterating that Lee Victory Parkway is meant for through traffic rather than stop-and-go turns into shopping centers, NewsChannel 5 reported.
One Lane Open As Investigators Work The Scene
Only one lane was kept open on the affected stretch of Lee Victory Parkway, and officials urged drivers to steer clear of the area and use alternate routes while emergency crews and utility workers stayed on scene through the morning, WSMV reports. Smyrna Police said the crash remains under investigation.
Authorities have not yet released the driver’s name and have not said what might have contributed to the crash, including whether speed or impairment played a role. Officials say more details will be released once the investigation moves forward.
