2004-10-04
by Lance Coleman
of The Daily Times Staff
Rangers responded to an accident in where two motorcycles collided at about 1 p.m. Saturday on Foothills Parkway near the Look Rock observation area about 10 miles from East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Miller said.
According to Miller, a westbound Ninja motorcycle driven by a 20-year-old male crossed the center line and struck an eastbound Honda Shadow driven by 45-year-old Ricky Wayne Grotjahn, of Alabama.
According to Miller, both men were airlifted by Lifestar helicopter to University of Tennessee Medical Center. The 20-year-old's name was withheld pending notification of next of kin, but Sunday afternoon he was listed in serious condition at University of Tennessee Medical Center, Miller said.
Grotjahn was listed in critical condition Sunday evening.
No other individuals were riding on the motorcycles with the two men at the time of the crash, Miller said.
Miller said two other motorcyclists ``dumped'' their back to avoid the wreck. but neither of the riders suffered injuries serious enough to be transported for treatment.
``There is heavy motorcycle traffic on the parkway right now,'' Miller said. ``There were several motorcyclists traveling in each direction, and it was witnessed by several motorcycle riders.''
Two dead, one injured in separate motorcycle crashes
2004-09-27
by Lance Coleman
of The Daily Times Staff
A husband and wife were killed and another man suffered a broken hip in separate motorcycle crashes in Blount County Sunday afternoon. According to the National Park Service, the first crash occurred at 3:14 p.m. on Foothills Parkway near the Look Rock observation area. Rangers were investigating the accident and did not release the names, ages or personal information of the victims, said Nancy Gray with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
According to Gray, the accident happened when a Nissan minivan traveling eastbound on Foothills Parkway crossed the center line and had a head-on collision with a man and woman riding a Honda Goldwing motorcycle.
The couple was pronounced dead at the scene, and two males and a juvenile in the minivan were taken by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service to Blount Memorial Hospital for treatment, Gray said.
When asked if any charges were filed, Gray said an investigation is continuing.
National Park Service rangers, along with Blount County Rescue Squad personnel, Blount County Fire Department personnel, Blount County Sheriff's Office deputies and Rural/Metro Ambulance Service personnel responded to the crash. Traffic was blocked near the intersection of Foothills Parkway and East Lamar Alexander Parkway.
The intersection was clogged several times when motorcycle riders stopped to ask about the situation.
While none of the individuals parked near intersection knew the individuals involved in the crash, they said Foothills Parkway is a very easy road to navigate.
``This is just a fun, nice ride,'' Sevierville attorney Ken Gilleand said.
Sevierville resident Steve Madison agreed.
``This is like the Blue Ridge Parkway,'' he said. ``It's nice and easy.''
The second motorcycle crash occurred at 4:51 p.m. about 4 miles from the North Carolina-Tennessee state line on a 13-mile stretch of road motorcycle enthusiasts call ``The Dragon'' because of its numerous curves and switch backs.
According to THP Trooper Stephen Parsley, Clark P. Searle, 38, Clarksville, was traveling northbound on Calderwood Highway when the 2000 model Harley-Davidson ran off road and hit the mountain.
``He went through a hair-pin turn and hit an embankment,'' Parsley said.
A landing zone was set up near Chilhowee Dam on Calderwood Highway, and traffic stopped when Lifestar helicopter landed. Minutes later, a Rural/Metro ambulance brought Searle to the landing zone and he was airlifted to University of Tennessee Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.
Florida motorcyclist dies in Monroe County crash
September 27, 2004
Knoxville New Sentinel
A Fort Lauderdale, Fla., motorcyclist was killed Saturday in a three-vehicle collision on state Highway 165 in Monroe County, authorities said. Robyn McCrone, 43, died in the 10:56 a.m. crash when her westbound 2003 Honda motorcycle struck the passenger-side door of an eastbound 1998 Lincoln, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatcher.
A second motorcycle, driven by 43-year-old Joseph Hathcock of Miami, Fla., struck the opposite side of the Lincoln, which was driven by Billy Cook, 58, of Tellico Plains, the dispatcher said.
Both Hathcock and Cook were injured. Hathcock was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Cook's condition and treatment facility were unknown.
Both bikers were wearing helmets and Cook was wearing a seatbelt, the dispatcher said. There were no indications of drug or alcohol use, but blood tests were being performed on all the drivers.'
Crackdown on the Dragon
2004-06-13
by Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff
Eleven reported accidents on the ``Dragon'' last week prompted Saturday's intensive traffic enforcement efforts on U.S. 129 (Calderwood Highway).
Twenty-nine citations, most of them for speeding, were issued in about three hours Saturday afternoon.
Sheriff James Berrong said the 11 accidents reported on the section of road known as the ``Dragon'' last week were investigated by his deputies or by Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers
``There were probably several more accidents on that stretch of road last week that were not reported,'' Berrong said. ``If no one was seriously hurt and only one vehicle was involved, some people won't let law enforcement know about an accident. Fortunately, none of last week's accidents were too serious.''
A 24-year-old South Carolina man was killed April 9 when his motorcycle collided with a truck on the ``Dragon.'' That section of road is a favorite trip for motorcyclists, with 318 curves along the 11-mile stretch from the Tennessee/North Carolina line to Tab Cat Creek at Chilhowee Lake.
The April 9 fatality was the first on the ``Dragon'' since Aug. 4, 2002. Two people died on the ``Dragon'' in 2002 and three in 2001. Intensive traffic enforcement efforts by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Blount County Sheriff's Office are credited with cutting the number of fatalities in 2003.
The Department of Safety responded to recommendations from troopers and reduced the speed limit on U.S 129 along Chilhowee Lake and up the mountain.
Assistant Chief Deputy Jimmy Long said the speed limit between the state line and Tab Cat Creek is 30 miles per hour. The speed limit goes up to 40 miles an hour from Tab Cat Creek to a point near the U.S. 129 intersection with Foothills Parkway, then goes to 50 miles per hour as drivers travel toward U.S. 411 South.
Several Blount County deputies, members of the Sheriff's Traffic Safety Unit and three Maryville Police Department Motorcycle Patrol officers worked together Saturday to allow motorists to travel safely on U.S. 129. Teams of officers set up stopping points at several locations between Chilhowee Dam and the state line.
Officers at the stopping points and those moving up and down the roadway, some in unmarked cars, used radar guns to check speed and radioed to the next team of officers to stop certain vehicles.
Drivers in cars and trucks as well as those on motorcycles were stopped and cited. In addition to the 21 citations for speeding, four citations were issued for passing on double yellow lines and one for reckless driving. One was issued for driving on a revoked license, one for improper display of tags and one for failure to provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance).
One man was cited for speeding at two different locations. He was clocked above the speed limit, stopped, cited, then drove away only to speed up again and earn an additional citation from the next team of officers along his route.
Blount County Chief Deputy Ron Dunn said despite the intensive enforcement effort Saturday, there was an accident on the ``Dragon'' during the time when more than a dozen officers were patrolling there.
Long said more intensive enforcement operations are planned throughout the summer and into the fall. Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Danny Thomas said his troopers will also be doing all they can to keep those who use the ``Dragon'' as safe as possible.
Safe Saturday on Dragon
2004-04-18
by Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff
Those on motorcycles, in sports cars and other vehicles traveling the Dragon on Saturday couldn't miss the law enforcement presence on the winding mountain road.
Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and deputies from the Blount County Sheriff's Traffic Safety Unit were stationed at several points along the 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129 (Calderwood Highway) known as the Dragon.
The highway is a favorite ride for bikers and sports car owners with 318 curves between the Tennessee/North Carolina line and Tab Cat Creek at the upper end of Chilhowee Lake.
North Carolina Highway Patrol and Graham County, N.C., Sheriff's deputies were also highly visible along U.S. 129 in western Carolina.
THP Sgt. Danny Thomas said intensive enforcement efforts were used to assure motorist safety during ``Wake the Dragon'' weekend. Thomas said a THP helicopter was in the air for two or three hours and spotted four motorcycles ``flying'' across the state line from North Carolina into Tennessee around noon.
THP units on the ground were notified; the four riders were intercepted and cited with reckless driving.
Others traveling the Dragon apparently got the message that recklessness would not be tolerated. Several bikers were signaling on-coming traffic to slow down.
Thomas said Tennessee troopers saw more than 500 motorcycles and at least 60 vehicles with a sports car group pass their locations along the curving roadway. He said there was one accident just over the state line in North Carolina that left a motorcyclist with broken bones but no life-threatening injuries.
There was also a report of a man in a pickup truck tailgating a group of motorcyclists and, at one point, brandishing a shotgun.
``We're here to deal with things like that as well as speeding and reckless driving,'' Thomas said.
``We're up here to help everybody enjoy themselves safely, so you'll see us regularly all summer long.''
S.C. man dies in cycle crash on `Dragon'
April 10, 2004
by Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff
A 25-year-old South Carolina man was killed Friday when his motorcycle crashed near the Tennessee/North Carolina line.
Freddie J. Hughes Jr. of Williamston was pronounced dead at the scene about one mile from the state line, according to Trooper Matt Fagiana of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The trooper said Hughes was traveling down the mountain on the section of Calderwood Highway (U.S. 129) known as the ``Dragon'' on his 2001 Yamaha.
As Hughes rounded a curve, he apparently lost control. The motorcycle slid on its side into the on-coming traffic lane and underneath a 1995 Ford Ranger truck traveling up the mountain.
The truck was driven by Kevin Mulkey, 27, of Chattanooga who was not injured.
Other motorists stopped to try to help Hughes and began CPR minutes after the crash about 2 p.m. Those efforts continued for 45 minutes as emergency responders arrived on the scene, but the victim remained unresponsive.
Resuscitation efforts were discontinued at the direction of a doctor at Blount Memorial Hospital's emergency medical control.
The body was taken to Blount Memorial by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service. Blount County Sheriff's deputies and the Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad assisted at the scene.
Hughes' wife was notified in Williamston by a member of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The ``Dragon,'' with 318 curves on an 11-mile stretch of road between the state line and Tab Cat Creek, is a favorite area for motorcyclists and draws riders from a wide area.
Friday's fatality is the first on the ``Dragon'' since Aug. 4, 2002, due in part to intensive traffic enforcement efforts by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Blount County Sheriff's Office.