Man critically injured in Townsend bicycle rally
By Iva Butler | (ivab@thedailytimes.com)
A Knoxville bicyclist was listed in serious condition at an area hospital Friday night following an early morning accident during a tandem bicycle rally.
A large group of cyclists were traveling at 9:30 a.m. Friday on Old Walland Highway toward Townsend at Pee Wee Springs near Lovers Lane.
Christopher Paul Huddleston, 42, Knoxville, was riding a green Primera Co-Motion Cycle with his wife, Jana Huddleston, 45, peddling in back.
Huddleston was operating his bike in a group of other bicycles when “he struck the back wheel of the bicycle in front of his. He then lost control of the bicycle, entered the other lane and landed on his left side. He suffered trauma to his head,” according to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office report. He was wearing a bike helmet.
Townsend Police Chief Ronnie Suttles said city officers came to the scene, which is outside the city limits, and “a couple of nurses riding with the group were taking care of him (Huddleston).”
He apparently hit his head, causing him to bleed profusely, Suttles said.
Blount County Fire Chief Don Stallions said his department sent two EMTs and a truck to the scene as first responders and then sent six firefighters and two other trucks to help set up the landing zone.
A Rural/Metro Ambulance Service crew transported Huddleston across a bridge over Little River to a Lifestar transport helicopter, which immediately flew him to University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Townsend Police and Volunteer Fire departments set up the landing zone on East Lamar Alexander Parkway, shutting the four-lane road down in front of Back Porch Restaurant.
Jana Huddleston was listed as injured in the report, and she went to UT Medical Center for treatment where no information was available.
