Man dies in accident; official says victim was not wearing seat belt

By Jessica Stith
of The Daily Times Staff

A 50-year-old Maryville man was killed in an accident after he lost control of his truck on Peach Orchard Road Sunday afternoon.

Sanford Donald Graham, 50, France Lane, Maryville, was unresponsive when nearby residents pulled him from the vehicle.

Graham had almost arrived at his residence on France Lane, which is located off Peach Orchard Road, when the accident occurred.

According to Blount County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Marian O’Briant, Graham was traveling east on Peach Orchard Road at about 2:15 p.m. in a white 2005 Chevrolet 2500HD pickup truck. Graham lost control of the truck on a curve and ran off the right side of the road.

Graham then over corrected his vehicle and traveled off the left side of the roadway — striking a large tree branch, O’Briant said. His vehicle then continued traveling several feet before coming to a rest down an embankment on the right side of Peach Orchard Road.

“Graham was not wearing a seat belt and the air bags did not deploy,” O’Briant said.
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit is continuing their investigation into the accident.

Blount County firefighters, members of the Blount County Rescue Squad and Rural/Metro Ambulance Service personnel assisted sheriff’s deputies at the crash scene.

Graham’s death was the 25th traffic fatality so far this year in Blount County compared to 21 fatalities at this time in 2006.