Friday wreck halts travel on 411

Tennessee State Patrol, Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department responded to an accident at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening, April 25 at the intersection of Maryville Highway and Chapman Highway (411 and 441). A 1991 Ford Explorer, driven by Donnie Lane, of Seymour, was turning left onto Maryville Highway when a 1994 Buick Regal driven by Oscar Parton, 71, of Seymour, struck the Ford, backing up travel on Maryville Highway and Chapman for several hundred yards during the busiest traffic of the day. A witness at the scene stated that Lane had been waved into traffic by both north and southbound drivers, which had stopped for him to pull out. When Lane attempted to make his left-hand turn, the Buick, traveling in the center lane unobstructed by the yielding motorists, struck his truck at a low rate of speed. Property damage was minor, but both Oscar and his passenger, 66-year-old Nettie May Parton were transported to Sevier County Medical Center for observation. Investigating officer for the State Patrol Master Trooper Bob Bunbren stated that Lane was charged with registration and insurance violations, and that failure to yield was a contributing factor in the collision. Lane stated at the scene that he was not the owner of the Ford. Sevier County Police and the Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the accident.