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Boy loses life in bike crash
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Jacob Billings, 14, was pronounced dead at DeKalb Community Hospital shortly after this crash Sunday afternoon. - photo by Photo courtesy WJLE
A local boy lost his life Sunday while riding his bicycle on Casey’s Cove Road.Dead is 14-year-old Jacob Billings.According to Trooper Craig Wilkerson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Billings was riding his bike east on a steep downhill grade just before 7 p.m. when he crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic while trying to negotiate a curve.The boy then hit a westbound 2011 Honda CR-V, driven by 31-year-old Sarah Atkinson of Lexington, Kentucky.After colliding with the Honda, Billings was reportedly thrown from the bike and hit by a 2006 F150 driven by 22-year-old Dalton Parker of Murfreesboro, who was traveling behind Atkinson's CR-V.Billings suffered severe head trauma and was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.The THP said he was not wearing a helmet.Atkinson reportedly carried three passengers in her vehicle, while Parker's had one passenger.None of the involved parties were injured except Billings.Authorities closed the road for several hours while the incident was being investigated.Wilkerson was assisted at the scene by THP Sergeant Dan Thweatt, Johnny Farley of the THP Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), and THP Sergeant Randy Crain of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).Members of the sheriff's department and members of the county fire department were also at the scene.No charges have been filed in the case.