200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

The other occupant, now believed to be the passenger, was transported to Bristol Regional Medical Center, not Holston Valley Medical Center as was previously released. He is now conscious and communicating, and his injuries at this point appear to be non-life threatening.

Additional information will be released at the appropriate time in the investigation.

As previously released:

On June 9, 2014 at approximately 2:00 PM, Kingsport Police Patrol and Traffic Units responded to Interstate 81 at mile marker 64.8 in reference to a single vehicle crash. Their subsequent investigation revealed the following:

A red 1992 Geo Tracker was northbound on Interstate 81 at mile marker 64.8 when for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered off the left side of the roadway into the median. In an attempt to return the vehicle to the traffic lane, the driver appeared to have overcorrected, sending the vehicle into a critical speed yaw. The vehicle spun sideways in the traffic lane and then rolled repeatedly down the interstate.

One occupant was ejected; however, according to witnesses, the other occupant crawled out of the vehicle under his own power. The occupant who was ejected received serious injuries and was transported by Wellmont One helicopter to Holston Valley Medical Center. The other occupant received possible injuries and was transported by Sullivan County EMS to Holston Valley Medical Center.

The investigation into this crash is continuing by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit. Officers are presently working to confirm which of the two occupants was actually driving the vehicle at the time of the crash; therefore, their identities will not be released at this point.

Both northbound lanes of I-81 were completely shut down for approximately two hours but have since been reopened.

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit