This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.thedailytimes.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.
Article published Jun 22, 2009 Crash hurts 3; 1 airlifted to hospital
By Jessica Stith of The Daily Times Staff
Three men were injured and one was airlifted to a hospital after a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning on Marble Hill Road in Friendsville.
The driver of the vehicle, Humberto L. Martinez, 20, Knoxville, was being charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, no driver's license, no proof of insurance and failure to maintain a traffic lane, according to a Blount County Sheriff's Office report.
Deputy Jeff Ledford reported that Martinez was driving a 1997 silver Dodge Stratus westbound on Marble Hill Road and was negotiating a curve. He said Martinez "failed to control his vehicle" and traveled across the oncoming lane, traveled off the roadway and hit a tree head-on.Ledford reported that Martinez "had been drinking" and was driving too fast when he ran off the road. None of the three men occupying the vehicle were wearing seat belts.
The crash occurred at 1:45 a.m. and Friendsville volunteer firefighters arrived on scene within 10 minutes. Steve Hargis, public information officer for Friendsville Volunteer Fire Department, said the first person to report the wreck said the car was on fire with people still inside of the vehicle.
Hargis said there was not a fire, but a witness saw powder from air bags, which appeared to be smoke. One person was trapped in the back seat, and firefighters and rescuers popped the door to release him from the car that was about 10 to 15 feet down an embankment.
"The tree was sticking through the car," Hargis said.
Due to the seriousness of the trapped man's injuries, LIFESTAR flight paramedics were called to take him to a hospital. Hargis said a landing zone was set up on West Lamar Alexander Parkway near Marble Hill Road.
Gerardo G. Suarez, 22, Knoxville, was taken by helicopter to University of Tennessee Medical Center. Martinez and another passenger, Miguel A. Vargas, 18, Knoxville, were also taken to UT Medical Center by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service. Hospital staff had no information on the three men.
Hargis said the Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad and Maryville police officers assisted firefighters, deputies and paramedics at the scene.