ALCOA, Tenn. (WATE) — One person is dead after a Saturday morning car crash on Alcoa Highway, according to police. A Maryville man is facing charges after police say a road rage incident resulted in the crash.
The Alcoa Police Department and Alcoa Fire Department responded to a fatal car crash on Alcoa Highway near Hunt Road around 9:15 a.m.
The Alcoa Police Department Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the crash and reported two cars were driving north on Alcoa Highway. Officers said both vehicles were involved in a road rage incident.
The driver of the Jeep Gladiator was driving across two lanes of traffic and hit the Nissan Altima. According to the news release, both cars went off the road into the median and hit a guardrail barrier. The Jeep Gladiator flipped on its top before stopping on the guardrail.
The crash slowed traffic going north of the highway.
The driver of the Nissan Altima, William Carroll, 34, of Maryville, was pronounced dead at the University of Tennessee hospital. To help the family with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe has been set up.
The driver of the Jeep Gladiator, Derek Geary, 58, of Maryville, was arrested and charged with one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of felony reckless endangerment.
The news release added that there were three people under the age of 18 in the car with Geary ranging from ages eight to 13. They were taken for treatment for their injuries.
According to police, investigation found that the fatal crash was the result of a road rage incident. Court records state that Geary was allegedly involved in the “road rage incident” and through his “reckless behavior” while driving, he made contact with the victim’s vehicle which resulted in his death.
Geary’s trial is set for Monday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m. His bail is set to $700,000.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Police are asking the community to contact Lt. Dustin Stevenson at (865) 981-4111 or dstevenson@cityofalcoa-tn.gov if anyone has more information about the crash.
