Martin airlifted after highway-speed crash

A man was airlifted Wednesday afternoon to Erlanger following a collision at the intersection of Jacksboro Highway and Old Shelbyville Road.

The injured victim, William Martin Jr., 54, was airlifted from the scene of the 3 p.m. crash and flown to Erlanger in Chattanooga by LifeForce helicopter for treatment of numerous injuries. Investigators suspect Martin’s injuries are worse because he was not wearing a seatbelt when his pickup was T-boned in the intersection.

According to preliminary reports filed by Trooper Donnie Clark, Martin had pulled up to a stop sign at the intersection of Old Shelbyville Road and Jacksboro Highway, and, after stopping, proceeded through the intersection. However, in doing so he entered the path of the 2003 Chevy pickup driven by Rikki Holland, 24, who was heading southbound, heading from Centertown to Morrison, on Jacksboro Road. The Holland vehicle impacted with the Martin truck at highway speed in the intersection, striking him in the passenger side.

The angle of the impact propelled Martin over to the passenger side of his vehicle, throwing him into his dashboard hard enough to crush the dashboard of his truck on the passenger side.

‘I definitely believe the fact Mr. Martin was not wearing a seatbelt contributed to the severity of his injuries,’ Clark said, noting evidence inside the truck cab suggested he had been thrown with some force.

Both Holland and her 7-year-old escaped serious injury.