A 70-year-old Maryville woman was struck and killed Thursday while riding her bicycle on the 3800 block of Old Niles Ferry Road, turning a familiar local route into the scene of a deadly crime. She was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead, authorities said. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is treating the crash as a hit-and-run and has launched an active investigation, urging anyone who knows anything to step up.
Deputies searching for truck seen near crash site
Investigators told reporters they are trying to track down a black or dark-blue, newer-model Dodge full-size pickup that may have been involved in the collision, according to WATE. Medics with AMR ambulance service requested a LifeStar helicopter to rush the injured cyclist from the 3800 block of Old Niles Ferry Road to the hospital, the outlet reported. Detectives are asking anyone with dashcam or home-surveillance video from the area to hold onto it and share it with investigators.
Victim identified; sheriff expresses sympathy
Blount County deputies identified the victim as 70-year-old Joyce Frey of Maryville. Sheriff James Lee Berrong said, “I extend my deepest condolences to Ms. Frey’s family,” according to WATE. Officials said they believe the death was caused by a hit-and-run and noted that investigators are actively working leads, including tips from the public and forensic evidence from the scene.
Why the hunt for the driver matters
Hit-and-run crashes have been climbing nationwide. Analysis from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that roughly 15% of police-reported crashes in 2023 involved a driver who left the scene. Federal data from NHTSA show pedalcyclist deaths have risen in recent years, and that about 23% of cyclists killed in 2023 were involved in hit-and-run crashes, a trend that can slow and complicate investigations like this one.
How neighbors can help
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the crash is asked to contact the Blount County Sheriff’s Office. The agency lists its Justice Center number as (865) 273-5000 on its contact page and offers online tools for sending in tips, including anonymous reports. Investigators caution residents not to confront anyone they suspect might be involved and to preserve any video or photos that could help the case.
Legal stakes under Tennessee law
Under Tennessee law, leaving the scene of a wreck that results in someone’s death can be charged as a felony under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-101. The Tennessee General Assembly has recently weighed proposals to increase penalties for hit-and-run crashes. If investigators identify a suspect in this case, prosecutors will decide what charges to bring based on the evidence and applicable state statutes.
