Fatal December Sumner County Pileup Prompts TDOT Study
On December 14, 2011 the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced an upcoming study of the road conditions on State Highway 386 in Sumner County. The study is prompted by the December 1 pileup on that roadway.
A chain-reaction crash involved a total of 50 cars and resulted in two deaths. At the time of the Tennessee highway accident, heavy fog and black ice were reported. In a review meeting, TDOT officials found that, given the weather conditions, emergency workers handled the situation well.
Ken Weidner, Sumner County Emergency Management Agency director said, “Bottom line is, we’re at the mercy of the weather.”
Two Tennessee residents were killed in the horrible accident. The first victim, Hendersonville resident Paul Warren, 28, died when his car ran under and was crushed by a semi trailer. The second, James Zeigler, 62, of Old Hickory, actually drove himself to the hospital following the wreck, but later died there.
TDOT officials agree that an electronic message board on the roadway to warn drivers of hazardous conditions would have helped the situation. Unfortunately, a sign like this was taken down for a road-widening project several miles before the crash site and had not been reinstalled.
The Memphis personal injury experts at Bailey & Greer extend their sympathy to the families of the victims of this horrible accident.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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