The Sullivan County Grand Jury took no action today in a 2014 East Stone Drive motor vehicle collision that killed a 12 year old child.
Much of the following has been previously released:
On August 27, 2014 at approximately 1:45 PM, Kingsport Central Dispatch was notified of a major motor vehicle collision in the vicinity of the Kingsport Pavilion/Target Shopping Center, located at 2626 East Stone Drive in Kingsport. Kingsport Police and other area first responders rushed to the scene. A subsequent investigation by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit revealed the following:
A 2007 Kia Sedona minivan, driven by Tracey Y. Noe and occupied by two children, ages 10 and 12, had been traveling west on East Stone Drive and was stopped in the turn lane preparing to turn left into the shopping complex directly across East Stone Drive from the Kingsport Pavilion/Target Shopping Center. For unknown reasons, a westbound 1995 Chevrolet Suburban full-size sport utility vehicle, driven by Catherine S. Arnold, apparently neither slowed nor stopped for the traffic ahead and struck the Kia in the rear.
The Kia was propelled forward diagonally across the intersection into the lanes that turn left from eastbound East Stone Drive into the Kingsport Pavilion/Target Shopping Center, where it side-swiped a 2011 Honda CRV compact sport utility vehicle, driven by Tammy S. Gilbert with passenger, Ricky C. Gilbert. The Kia careened off the Honda and came to rest after colliding head-on with a 2008 Lexus RX250 compact sport utility vehicle, driven by Peggy H. Rasnake.
All three occupants of the Kia, received significant injuries and were transported to Holston Valley Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S. Ms. Noe and the 10 year old child received serious injuries and were initially listed in stable condition, but have since recovered. The 12 year old child received life-threatening injuries and was initially listed in critical condition. He was later air-lifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. On Saturday, August 30, 2014 at approximately 10:30 AM he died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Ms. Arnold, the driver of the Suburban, received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Holston Valley Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S. All three occupants of the other two vehicles received possible injuries, but did not require medical treatment at the time. All occupants of all four vehicles involved in the crash appear to have been properly restrained by their seatbelts. Several lanes of East Stone Drive were close for approximately four hours to allow for on-scene crash investigation and removal of the vehicles involved.
Scientific crash reconstruction analysis by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit determined that Ms. Arnold’s Suburban was traveling approximately 85 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone at the time of impact. A sample of her blood submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab tested positive for multiple prescription medications.
The findings of this investigation were turned over to the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office for review and in turn presented to the Sullivan County Grand Jury. On October 6, 2015 the Grand Jury determined no criminal wrongdoing on the part of Ms. Arnold. |