A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 79N and Bull Durham Road in Buchanan, Tennessee, killed three people, including an 11-year-old child, and left a 10-year-old passenger injured on Sunday afternoon. The Tennessee Highway Patrol identified the two adults killed as 69-year-old Stephen R. Parker, who was driving, and 64-year-old Susan J. Parker, a passenger, while the driver of the second vehicle walked away without injury.
What Happened at the Intersection
According to a preliminary accident report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Stephen R. Parker, Susan J. Parker, and two children were riding in a 2019 Ram 1500 when it collided with a 2015 Ram 1500 driven by 26-year-old Terry M. Roberts, as reported by Radio NWTN. The outlet, citing the preliminary report, noted that Roberts was not injured in the wreck and was wearing a seat belt. The report did not specify whether the Parkers or the children in their truck were belted, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol said information about the crash remains limited as the investigation continues.
The crash shut down a stretch of Highway 79N for an extended period Sunday afternoon. The Henry County Sheriff's Office issued an emergency notification closing the highway near Bull Durham Road so emergency responders and investigators could work the scene, according to Henry County Now, and drivers were asked to avoid the area while personnel were on site.
A Well-Traveled Rural Corridor
A Well-Traveled Rural Corridor Highway 79N is a roadway in Henry County. The same outlet also mentions Paris and the Land Between the Lakes area. The available reports do not identify speed or traffic volume as factors in the crash.
Tennessee law requires drivers to ensure child passengers under 16 are properly restrained, with children ages 9 to 12 required to be secured in standard seat belts, according to Tennessee Code § 55-9-602 as outlined by Waverly Public Safety. Tennessee also operates as a primary seat belt state under Tennessee Code § 55-9-603, meaning officers can stop a vehicle solely because a driver or front-seat passenger isn't buckled in, per the Tennessee Traffic Safety Resource Service. The preliminary report has not addressed restraint use among the Parkers or the two children in their truck.
Investigation Could Take Weeks
Investigation Could Take Weeks The Tennessee Highway Patrol typically assigns its Critical Incident Response Team to help troopers reconstruct fatal crashes, using advanced tools and equipment, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. The agency's page does not state a typical timeline for fatal-crash reconstruction investigations. The available sources do not identify where crash data and reports are stored.
The available reports do not provide comparative statewide traffic-fatality totals for 2025 and 2024. The 10-year-old was injured in the crash. West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County Hospital is in Paris. As of Monday morning, the Tennessee Highway Patrol had not released further details on right-of-way, speed, or potential impairment, and the investigation remains ongoing.
