Downpour triggers deadly wreck: Dolzonek, 42, loses control during heavy rain

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

The Nissan Altima driven by Lucretia Dolzonek was badly damaged after colliding with a Dodge Durango Saturday night. Heavy rains were responsible for Dolzonek losing control and entering the other lane of traffic. (Duane Sherrill photo)

Torrential rain is being blamed for a crash Saturday evening which claimed the life of a Westwood woman and injured a family of five near the Warren-Coffee County line on Highway 55.

The fatally injured victim, Lucretia G. Dolzonek, 42, died at the scene of the Saturday evening crash when her 1995 Nissan Altima was struck broadside by a 1999 Dodge Durango driven by Everett R. Seals Jr., 35, of Mt. Juliet. His family, including wife, Leah Seals, 36; and children, Kendall, 10, Emily, 4; and Ryan, 12, were all injured and taken to Manchester Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

According to Highway Patrolman Mike Tanner, the accident happened around 9 p.m. on the four-lane section of Highway 55 just inside Warren County near the Coffee County line.

Dolzonek was traveling east toward McMinnville when she hit a large pool of standing water which had covered the highway during a torrential rain storm. After hitting the water, Dolzonek’s vehicle became airborne.

The impact of the car hitting the pavement after being in the air for a short time busted one of the front tires, causing the car to cross the grassy median. The vehicle then continued across the oncoming westbound lane where the car was struck in the passenger side by the Seals vehicle.

Because of the angle and place of impact, directly between the tires of the Dolzonek vehicle, the Durango crushed the entire passenger compartment and killed Dolzonek.

Adding to the problems caused by the rain, Tanner said under-inflation of Dolzonek’s tires may have contributed to her hydroplaning. Specifically, Tanner said a check of the tires on the victim’s car showed they were only inflated to about 20 pounds, even though they were rated for 35 pounds of pressure. Tanner said the underinflation caused the car to be more prone to hydroplane because less of the tire was in contact with the road.