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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: | Unrestrained Driver Seriously Injured in Head-On Crash on Granby Road | ||
| DATE: | January 5, 2016 | ||
| CASE #: | 16-000234 | ||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
| On January 5, 2016 at approximately 12:40 AM, Kingsport Police Officers were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision on Granby Road, approximately one-quarter of a mile north of Hunter Wright Stadium. Due to the severity of injuries, the K.P.D. Traffic Unit was deployed to reconstruct the crash.
The ensuing investigation revealed that a Toyota Corolla, driven by Clayton R. Smith and occupied by four passengers, was northbound on Grandby Road in the proper lane of travel. Meanwhile, a Honda Civic, driven by sole occupant Justin W. Caudill, was southbound on Granby Road but traveling improperly, left of center, on the wrong side of the road in the northbound lane. The vehicles struck in a head-on impact. Mr. Caudill was not wearing his seatbelt as required by law and sustained incapacitating injuries. He was transported to Holston Valley Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S. for treatment. He is currently listed in serious but stable condition. All five occupants of the Toyota were properly restrained with only two of them reporting possible injuries and the other three appearing uninjured. Investigators are looking into the possibility of prescription drug impairment on the part of Mr. Caudill. Blood samples were collected and submitted to the T.B.I. Crime Lab for analysis. The crash remains under investigation by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit with charges pending. Again, just to reemphasize, Mr. Caudill was the only individual involved in this crash who was not wearing his seatbelt, and not by coincidence, he was also the only one who was seriously injured. Wearing a seatbelt can easily make the difference in a motorist being seriously injured or killed in a crash versus literally walking away from the crash with minor injuries or completely unscathed. The Kingsport Police Department encourages ALL occupants of ALL motor vehicles to wear their seatbelt ALL of the time. It is the law, but more importantly, it might just save a life. |
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| COLLISION VEHICLE #1 INFORMATION | ||
| Make | Honda | |
| Model | Civic | |
| Year | 1998 | |
| Type | Compact 4-door Sedan | |
| Color | Green | |
| Damage | Disabling Damage | |
| Driver | Name | Justin W. Caudill |
| Age | 25 Years of Age | |
| Gender/Race | Male/White | |
| Residency | Kingsport, TN | |
| Injuries | Incapacitating | |
| COLLISION VEHICLE #2 INFORMATION | ||
| Make | Toyota | |
| Model | Corolla | |
| Year | 2009 | |
| Type | Compact 4-door Sedan | |
| Color | White | |
| Damage | Disabling Damage | |
| Driver | Name | Clayton R. Smith |
| Age | 29 Years of Age | |
| Gender/Race | Male/White | |
| Residency | Kingsport, TN | |
| Injuries | Possible Injury | |
| Passenger | Name | Tiffany N. Fluhartly |
| Age | 25 Years of Age | |
| Gender/Race | Female/White | |
| Residency | Kingsport, TN | |
| Injuries | No Injury | |
| Passenger | Name | Kimberlee L. Baker |
| Age | 20 Years of Age | |
| Gender/Race | Female/White | |
| Residency | Castlewood, VA | |
| Injuries | No Injury | |
| Passenger | Name | Rebecah G. Buckingham |
| Age | 19 Years of Age | |
| Gender/Race | Female/White | |
| Residency | Kingsport, TN | |
| Injuries | Possible Injury | |
| Passenger | Name | Jonathan L. Bailey |
| Age | 33 Years of Age | |
| Gender/Race | Male/White | |
| Residency | Johnson City, TN | |
| Injuries | No Injury | |
| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
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Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit |
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