Drunk driver triggered collision: police

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

The driver of the overturned car, Michael Murray, has been charged with drunk driving and vehicular assault after his out-of-control car slammed into the vehicle driven by Heather Lockhart on Nashville Highway at the Bethany curve. (Duane Sherrill photo)

An alleged drunk driver faces felony charges after he lost control of his car and slammed into an oncoming car ? critically injuring the other driver ? Saturday night on Nashville Highway.

The suspect, Michael E. Murray, 28, of McMinnville is charged with aggravated assault, vehicular assault and second-offense DUI. The victim, Heather D. Lockhart, 21, of Dunlap was airlifted from nearby Warren County Memorial Airport to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga where she was treated for serious leg injuries.

According to Highway Patrolman Monte Terry, the wreck happened just after 7 p.m. Saturday in the major curve near the intersection of Nashville Highway and Bethany Road. The curve is the most frequent area for wrecks with injury in the county given its heavy traffic and degree of curve.

A preliminary investigation revealed Murray was traveling west, away from McMinnville, in his Ford Taurus when he entered the curve and lost control of his vehicle, which started sliding sideways around the curve. During the slide, Murray crossed the centerline and entered the path of an eastbound Honda driven by Lockhart, which was just about to enter the curve.

At that point, Lockhart slammed into the side of the sliding Murray vehicle. The impact crushed the front end of the Honda, hurling it off the road and onto a grassy shoulder. The Murray vehicle overturned in the road, coming to rest on its side.

Murray, who suffered a minor hand injury, was field tested at the scene after lawmen found beer cans lying in the wreckage of his car. He was then placed into custody on suspicion of drunk driving.

The victim was rushed to the local airport to be airlifted. Emergency crews at the scene surmised a combination of her seatbelt and airbag likely saved Lockhart’s life given the amount of damage to her vehicle.

If convicted of the top charge of aggravated assault, Murray could face three to six years in prison.