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From Staff Reports
A two-vehicle accident Wednesday evening on U.S. Highway 19-E near the Whiteway Grill and Ripshin Mountain Road claimed the life of two people.

According to the preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, on May 10 at approximately 8:45 p.m., a Toyota Sienna, driven by Robert Brinkley II, 56, of North Carolina, was traveling south on US 19-E, while a Ford Taurus driven by Timothy Mayse, 42, of Roan Mountain, was traveling north on US 19-E. The Taurus crossed the center line into the path of the Sienna. The Sienna hit the Taurus in the passenger side door. Both Mayse and his passenger, Kerri Whitehead, 22, of Roan Mountain, received fatal injuries. It is believed that the Taurus may have had a right rear tire failure that caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Brinkley II was also injured in the accident.

The Carter County Sheriff’s Department reported that three others, including a 10-year-old boy, were injured in the accident.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, a 10-year-old was flown to Johnson City Medical Center with critical injuries. The extent of the child’s injuries as well as the two other persons injured in the accident were still unknown Thursday.
(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)