Smithville Review/Reed Vanderpool

Two people were airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga and one man was taken to DeKalb Community Hospital after a four-vehicle crash at the intersection of West Broad and Mountain Street in Smithville last week. According to Trooper Brandon Jackson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Robert Horton, 70, of Walling was traveling east on West Broad in a blue Ford F150 when he struck a 1991 Buick Lesabre, which was stopped in the turning lane with 29-year-old Steven Davidson, Jr. behind the wheel, in the rear. The Buick was knocked completely across the intersection, and came to rest in the right eastbound lane, pointed west, with extensive damage to the rear. Horton’s truck continued across the intersection into westbound traffic, colliding head on with a 2011 Ford Fiesta, driven by 57-year-old Jamye Atnip and carrying 29-year-old Elizabeth Atnip as a passenger, as it sat in the turning lane. Horton’s truck then moved into the westbound lane and hit a 2004 F150 driven by 18-year-old Benjamin Curtis of Alexandria, which was also stopped at the traffic light. The trooper told the Review that Horton claimed he accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake at the intersection. Davidson and his passenger, 40-year-old Stephanie Gray, were trapped in the Buick, and had to be extricated by members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department. Davidson and Gray were both transported to the local hospital by DeKalb EMS, then airlifted to Erlanger. Horton was transported to DeKalb Community and treated for minor injuries. None of the other parties were injured in the wreck. Horton was cited for driving on an expired license, failure to exercise due care, and failure to obey traffic instructions (red light). Davidson was cited for driving on a suspended license. Smithville Police and members of the sheriff’s department also assisted at the scene.