JACKSBORO, Tenn. (WATE) — Three riders, including two dean’s list students at East Tennessee State University, were killed Sunday in the Windrock Park area of Stoney Fork when their ATV fell more than 100 feet into thick brush.
A fourth person was found in serious condition by emergency responders, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office said Monday. A GoFundMe page identified the injured person as Colby Akins, a nephew, who was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.
RELATED: Grandmother clinging to memories after deadly ATV crash
He suffered several broken bones and other non- life-threatening injuries, the GoFundMe page said.
The riders were from North Carolina and guests at Windrock Park.
Killed were Ronnie Akins, 47, Dillon “Bubba” Akins, 19, and Jonathan “Johnny” Laws, also 19, all of Weaverville, N.C., which is about 100 miles east of Knoxville.
RELATED: Anderson County Rescue Squad responds to Windrock Park often, chief says
Officials with East Tennessee State University confirmed with WJHL.com on Tuesday morning Dillon Akins and Jonathan Laws were students at East Tennessee State University.
According to ETSU, both were dean’s list students who just finished their freshman year. Laws was an engineering technology major while Akins had not yet declared a major.
While in high school, Dillon Akins and Laws had been basketball players at North Buncombe High School. The school’s basketball team page on Facebook said in a post on Sunday: “The Blackhawks suffered a tragic loss tonight. Our hearts are saddened as we mourn the loss of Johnny, Dillon and Dillon’s father. Johnny and Dillon were two fine young men. Our hearts and prayers are with their families. Please remember the families in prayer.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Akins family.
The ATV, a side-by-side, left a trail and fell more than 100 feet, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office said. The accident was reported around 1:18 p.m. and rescuers had to cut through thick brush and trees to reach the crash site, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office said.
Windrock Park consists of 73,000 acres and says it is the largest privately owned riding area in the United States, according to its website. It has an Oliver Springs address.
