It was a deadly week last week in DeKalb County with two different vehicle crashes involving dump trucks, one ending in a fatality.

On Friday, July 15, at 6:25 a.m. 79-year-old Walter Gordon of Smithville was traveling north on Allens Ferry Road in a Toyota 4Runner. At the same time, 40-year-old Terrance Martin of Smithville was traveling south in Peterbilt 388 dump truck for T-Bird Trucking.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Gordon’s vehicle attempted to make a left turn onto Holmes Creek Road, pulling into the path of the dump truck and striking the Peterbilt at an angle. The Toyota traveled several feet before coming to rest in the roadway. The dump truck traveled several feet, crossing the center line, and running off the left roadside where it overturned. Gordon was killed at the scene in the crash. He had not been wearing a seatbelt.

Deputies with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb Fire Department, THP, and TDOT responded to the scene. A Lifeflight helicopter was dispatched to the scene but was later called off. No charges are pending in the case.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, July 13, authorities worked another crash involving a dump truck. In this crash one person was seriously injured.

At 1:46 p.m., 69-year-old Kathey Phillips of Woodbury was traveling south on State Route 56 (McMinnville Highway) in a 2006 Nissan Murano SUV. THP officials say that Phillips crossed the centerline and into the path of a northbound 1993 Mack dump truck, driven by 34-year-old Ryan A. Davis of Monroe, TN, of Rhino Trucking. The truck had no load on it at the time.

Deputies with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb Fire Department, and THP responded to the scene, where Phillips was flown by EMS air from the scene. Davis was not injured in the crash.