Another victim

Two-car accident sends one to hospital A two-car accident occurred on Chapman Highway just east of the Smoky Crossing close to Seymour just before noon on Tuesday, November 30. The accident highlights the need for a passing lane on Chapman Highway in the area. Tom Graves of Sevierville was traveling away from Seymour in the outside lane of the highway when a Mazda 626 pulled from the Medical Plaza on the right side of the road. The driver of the Mazda apparently decided to turn into the Dollar General store from the inside lane, right in front of Graves’ Chevrolet Tahoe. Graves’ truck hit the driver’s side of the Mazda sending it into the ditch where it came to rest on its wheels. Mr. Graves drove his truck to the entrance of the former Spurgeon’s Nursery and several people stopped to assist the driver of the Mazda. The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department, Sevier County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) responded along with the Sevier County Rescue Squad. Officials called LifeStar, which responded with the organizations new helicopter, which was on the scene within five minutes of being notified to transport the injured driver to UT Medical Center in Knoxville. The driver of the Mazda received non-life threatening injuries according to officials on the scene. Graves was uninjured in the accident.