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Kingsport Police Department
200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) |
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| NEWS RELEASE | |||
| SUBJECT: | K.P.D. Investigating Interstate Crash Involving Double Decker Tour Bus | ||
| DATE: | December 14, 2015 | ||
| CASE #: | 15-027075 | ||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
| On December 14, 2015 at approximately 5:00 PM, Officers from the Kingsport Police Department’s Patrol Division and Traffic Unit responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 81 near mile marker 66 in Kingsport. Their subsequent investigation revealed the following:
A 2012 Vanho double-decker tour bus (81 seat capacity) was southbound on I-81 at mile marker 66 when the right front tire experienced a sudden blowout. As a result, the bus swerved to the right and exited the paved surface onto the shoulder. The bus eventually came to a rest after striking a tree approximately 100 feet off the roadway. Twenty-four people, including the driver, were on board. Three passengers sustained minor injuries. One additional passenger was transported to an area medical facility for a precautionary evaluation due to a pre-existing medical condition that was exacerbated by the crash. One lane of I-81 remained closed for over three hours to allow for investigation by law enforcement personnel and safe retrieval and removal of the bus by a commercial wrecker service. All travel lanes have since been reopened. While the crash remains under investigation by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit, no charges are expected to be filed. |
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| COLLISION VEHICLE INFORMATION | |
| Make | Vanho |
| Model | Bus |
| Year | 2012 |
| Type | Double-Decker Tour Bus |
| Color | Blue |
| Damage | Disabling Damage |
| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
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Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit |
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