The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a single-vehicle car crash that claimed the life of a Carter County man on Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday afternoon, the THP identified the driver as 78-year-old William Campbell.
The accident occurred around 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday on Highway 91 between the entrance to Minton Hollow Road and Creeker’s restaurant.
According to the THP, Campbell was driving a 2010 Hyundai north bound on Highway 91 when his vehicle ran off the side of the road and over the curb. After jumping the curb, Campbell’s car drove through a fence and down an embankment and struck a ditch. The car then went airborne and came to a final rest on its wheels in a field at 190 Highway 91.
Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. According to the THP, the use of alcohol or drugs is not suspected in the crash, but tests will be conducted as part of an examination of Campbell for the investigation into the cause of the accident.
“It appears he had some sort of medical condition,” said Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford, who was at the scene of the accident.
THP Trooper Christopher Dunn said in his report that Campbell was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident but noted in his opinion he did not feel the use of safety restraints would have made a difference.
Campbell was alone in his car and no other vehicles were involved in the accident.
The investigation into the accident by the Tennessee Highway Patrol is still underway at this time.