Head-on crash kills Marshall County man

Rescue workers remove William Martin of Marshall County from his car as the drink truck he struck head-on smoulders. Martin was killed instantly in the 6:30 a.m. accident west of Shelbyville on State Highway 64. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge]

A Marshall County man was killed instantly in a head-on crash just east of "Dead Man's Curve" on State Highway 64 west of Shelbyville this morning.

Will Martin, 21, swerved into the path of a large soft drink truck about 6:30 a.m., State Trooper Patrick Turner said.

James Michael Reed, 35, of Huntland was driving the truck for Five-Star Food Service of Tullahoma. Reed was en route to make deliveries in the Lewisburg area, Turner said. Reed suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Bedford County Medical Center.

Martin was pinned behind the steering wheel for nearly an hour as rescuers cut the roof to remove his body.

The accident site is approximately 6 miles west of Shelbyville and a half-mile west of the Comstock Road intersection on a straight, yet dangerous stretch of road where several fatal and serious accidents have occurred over the years.

At least two baseballs signed by youth league players fell from the victim's car and were scattered around the accident scene, a frequent location of serious wrecks. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge]

* A truck being pursued by a Bedford County deputy crashed into a grove of trees and landed on its side late Tuesday night on Bryant Road west of Unionville.

The full-size Dodge truck was occupied by two Rockvale men, Roger Smith, 32, who was pinned in the driver's seat for nearly 30 minutes, and Terry Love, 26, who ran following impact and was captured after a brief foot chase by Deputy Nikia Elliott.

Smith suffered shoulder and leg injuries and facial cuts but was conscious and talking to rescuers, Elliott said.

Both men denied being the driver, Elliott said, despite Smith's position in the cab.

Skid marks indicated the truck was unable to make a sharp curve and slid straight into the trees, turning onto its side. Elliott said the truck was going about 50 mph at the time of the crash. The pursuit lasted about a mile, according to Elliott.

Elliott had been called to the area to investigate an incident at a home about a mile away on Bryant Road. The pursuit began about 10:45 p.m. after the truck, which matched the description of one driven by a suspect in the case, was seen by Elliott passing by the home.

The truck had been taken without permission from a relative of one of the men, Elliott said, and charges are pending.

Construction theft

The latest in a series of thefts from construction sites in Bedford County involves a bender at the former Bill Daniel home on U.S. 231 south of Shelbyville.

The bender, belonging to James Edward Smith of Shelbyville and valued at $1,200, was taken over the weekend from the home's front lawn, a Bedford County Sheriff's Department report said.

Jail intake

The following persons were arrested since Monday by the Shelbyville Police Department, Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force and processed through Bedford County Jail. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.

* Jose Alfredo Torres, 25, Shelbyville Mills Road; public intoxication; released, $500 bond

* Marcos Cervantes, 34, Shelbyville Mills Road; DUI, possession of schedule II drug, introducing contraband into a penal institution; released, $8,500 bond

* Steven Russell Vincent, 35, Kingston Corner Road; domestic assault; released, $5,000 bond

* William Anthony Hayworth, 29, Boston Street; bondsman surrender; held, no bond

* Karen Troy Brooks, 39, West Lane Street; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $4,000 bond

* Randy Allen McBride, 44, Cleveland, Tenn.; violation of probation; held, $2,500 bond

* Napoleon Alexander Bryan, 61, Crestview Circle; possession of schedule II drug; held, $25,000 bond

* Michael Anthony Throneberry, 19, Martha Street; violation of probation; held, $2,500 bond

* Christopher Lee Dowell, 21, West End Circle; criminal trespassing; released, $1,500 bond

* Andrew Blake Perryman, 18, East Depot Street; possession of schedule VI drug, criminal impersonation; held, $3,000 bond

* Tammy Tracy Johnson, 39, Decatur Street; failure to appear; held, no bond