Email link

Respond to editor

Read comments (27)

Share link

Unionville man dies following three-vehicle crash

Saturday, April 26, 2008
By David Melson

Allen Haynes of Unionville, a passenger in the truck at left, died after a collision on North Main Street late Friday morning. The PT Cruiser (middle) pulled through a gap in a line of traffic, police said, while attempting to turn onto Hickory Drive off North Main. It hit the van at right after the collision with the truck.
(Photo by Bo Melson)
[Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

A Unionville man died Friday following a three-vehicle crash at a dangerous Shelbyville intersection.

Allen Haynes, 71, of U.S. 41-A North, was pronounced dead on arrival at Bedford County Medical Center, Maj. Jan Phillips of the Shelbyville Police Department said.

Haynes was a passenger in a truck driven by Joshua D. Bomar, 19, of the same address. Cause of his death is undetermined, police said.

The Bomar truck was northbound in the outside lane of Main Street at 11:19 a.m. alongside a line of traffic stopped in the inside lane behind a car waiting to turn into the Legends Restaurant parking lot, Phillips said.

Krystle R. Collier, 26, Lynncrest Drive, Unionville, was southbound on North Main, turned through a gap in the stopped cars toward Hickory Drive and into the path of the Bomar truck, according to police.

After impact the Collier car struck a van driven by Donnita C. Stacey, 39, Anderton Road, which was stopped on Hickory Drive, Phillips said.

Bomar was taken to BCMC while Collier and a passenger in her car, Christopher D. Henley, 5, of her address, were transported to Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, police said.

Stacey was uninjured.

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on t-g.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

was just wondering now that mr.haynes was killed at this dangerous intersection if the city will finally put up a stop light at what has been a dangerous intersection for i know 30 years. i was just wondering if now that this has happened if the mayor or city manager will finally order for a stop light to be put there. i pray that if will so no one else die's at that intersection. thank you for allowing me to say this.

-- Posted by nashvilleguy08 on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 3:05 PM

This question has come up before at city study sessions. It's my understanding that since N. Main St. is a state highway, the final say would have to come from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

-- Posted by Brian Mosely on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 3:14 PM

oh boy!! so we are going to have to wait on the state to make a move. n.main is not only a speed trap and now a death trap. we all hate red lights, but if they can prevent this, so be it. is jim tracy going to have picture in the paper consoling the haynes family.

our prayers should be with them

-- Posted by farmerman on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 3:30 PM

Can we all say TURNING LANE! There should have been 5 lanes there for along time I've been gone from Shelbyville for 9 years and I'm amazed each time I come home how much that end of town has grown but there seems to be no change when it comes to the roads.

What about the income that the horse show brings in to the town, can there be some kind of tax set from some of that income to help pay for the road up grades.

-- Posted by redcat00 on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 4:31 PM

Was it not just in the paper that North Main was approved for widening? I know it has already begun at the Colleredo Blvd. intersection. We must realize that jobs of this magnitude take time and must be done in sections. You cannot do the entire expansion at once. How would you like to travel North Main if it were ALL torn up from one end to the other? It is BAD enough now without adding that mess to an already "TOO BUSY" section of highway? As Mr. Mosely previosuly stated, this is a state highway and any widening or stop light additions is at their discretion. Yes, I agree it has taken way too long to have the widening begun but where the government is involved, we know what happens. My thoughts and prayers go to each of the families affected by this tragic accident.

-- Posted by ghostrider on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 4:47 PM

The bottom line is that the state knew in the 90's that 231 was going to be developed. Walmart had committed to its current location for a good while before it was actually built. Everyone knows that where Walmart goes growth in the area soon follows so the SMART thing to have done would have been to add the turning lane no later than 2002.

I'm not sure that a light is the answer as one so close to the existing one would cause more congestion. As a matter of fact one only has to look at 231 entering the Boro to see the problems that it more lights have caused. It was once possible to turn against the traffic both into and out of a side road or business establishment. Adding a light a few hundred yard away made these turns impossible. Please realize that more lights are not the answer.

-- Posted by gottago on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 5:36 PM

Just an update for everyone. Krysi is one of my best friends... She and Chris (the 5 year old in the PT Cruiser with her) have both been treated and released from MTMC.

Please keep her in mind, and the families of everyone involved.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 6:45 PM

I did not realize this was a bad intersection -- any more so that others on North Main. I am of the opinion it is always unsafe to "cross" a lane with moving traffic. I have been offered numerous times a chance to cross a lane like this, but have NEVER felt safe in doing so.

My sympathy goes to the Haynes family. I have known this family for many years and I know they will surely miss their husband/father/grandfather.

-- Posted by Bedford Co. resident on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 7:09 PM

I agree there needs to be a turning lane on main st. theres really too much traffic for there not to be and i cant believe they havent added one already.

-- Posted by jennifer_g on Sat, Apr 26, 2008, at 8:17 PM

NOT only do we need a stop light here but we NEED a slow down & be careful sign. Allen Haynes, the man that passed away in this horrible accident is my grandfather. Our family is having a rough time, but we are going to be alright eventually. God had a plan!!! Josh, my cousin, the driver, is doing alright. Physically he is only ok... has a knot on his head and a bad knee but MENTALLY is breaking down. Papaw & Josh were very close. && they always will be.

Please continue to pray for our family.

-- Posted by hbell1127 on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 12:29 AM

I was almost in a traffic accident at a different intersection the other day when a car in a turning lane gave the okay for the opposite woman in the turning lane to go ahead and I was right there. The guy who gave the go ahead either didn't see me or didn't look. Fortunatly I was able to stop in time. My mother was not so fortunate when she was given the go ahead. She went ahead and was hit by an unsuspecting oncoming car, totalling her SUV. We all appreciate the friendliness of our small town, but, don't take it upon yourself to guide traffic. And if given the go ahead, don't take it unless you can see for yourself. I am not saying that this is what happened in this accident, but.. this is a good time to bring this up.

-- Posted by JenniferC on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 10:50 AM

I have seen many near miss accidents by people letting someone cross in front of them with 2 lanes of traffic. Honestly I think the person giving the nod to go ahead feels like they are just being nice but they seem to forget there is another lane of traffic. Most times the person who is crossing can not see into the 2nd lane and depending on the nice fellow giving the nod that both lanes are clear...keep in mind they don't always look to see if you can go all the way across, they are just saying you can cross in front of them.

-- Posted by Dianatn on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 11:27 AM

Darrick_04 . . . the man that was killed in this accident was my uncle.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 1:07 PM

My daughter was injured in a similar type of accident in another town and since then I never wave someone on through. I feel bad that I'm not being polite..but I know how that accident happened to her and I took it as a lesson to not wave people on thru when there is another lane beside me. I also won't go thru if someone is waving me through..I would rather just miss my turn than chance it. I think sometimes we just don't realize how dangerous something is until it happens to us or someone close to us. My heart goes out to all those involved in this accident.

-- Posted by hemmaw on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 6:50 PM

To jaxspike and his family, Sorry for your lost, my prayers are with you all, and everyone involved.

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 6:59 PM

Jaxspike,

I knew the grandson driving the truck as well... Josh Bomar. This is highly unfortunate, and everyone is sincerely apologetic that it ever happened.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Sun, Apr 27, 2008, at 9:56 PM

jakespike..I am so sorry to hear of your loss..My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family....

-- Posted by rebelrose on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 6:20 AM

My thoughts and prayers are with the Haynes family. I know this is the second Grandfather "Goose" has loss in the past year. Rex, if you or Angie need anything, just let me know.

-- Posted by Mike Molder on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 9:35 AM

I try to avoid that street as much as possible. I hate that every business feels the need to move there. I try to give my business anywhere that means I don't have to travel that street. I think if everyone did that, maybe the business owners would not feel the need to move there and traffic would be diversified all over town instead of just on one street. At least when everything was on Madison street there were several alternate routes. I feel like there will be many more accidents on that street especially when the new hospital opens up and ambulances have to travel it even more than what they do now.

-- Posted by CD on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 9:44 AM

I did not know the family personally but my son went to school with josh i just want to let the family know my prayers are with you it was not long ago that i lost my granmother my uncle and a cousin all in two months mkay God be with all of you

-- Posted by t's girl on Tue, Apr 29, 2008, at 1:52 PM

Why would Jim Tracy have his picture taken with the Haynes family farmerman? Just curious?

-- Posted by playfair on Fri, May 2, 2008, at 12:03 AM

There is no need for a light here or any of the other side streets along this strip of 231. What needs to be in place is a turn lane. On one weekend alone from Friday thru Sunday, I drove by three rear end collisions. I told my wife that it was going to take someone getting killed to wake the city leaders up. Sadly it has happen, and I only hope this will drive the point home so that another family does not have to go through this type of loss.

-- Posted by docudrama on Sat, May 3, 2008, at 6:23 PM

Just curious farmerman? Why would Jim Tracy have his picture made with the Haynes family?

-- Posted by playfair on Sun, May 4, 2008, at 7:48 PM

To all who have been so kind to our family,we thank you. I am the oldest of Allen's children. I would just like to say that we would appreciate it if our Dad/Husband/grandfather was not used as a subject for red lights or turning lanes or anything else. As I read the comments, I was sadened.Please respect my Daddy's memory and pray for us and my Mom? We have lost a great man and our love is still as strong and the accident is still as fresh as if it happened today. My thoughts and prayers go to the Young lady that was in the wreck also.I am so glad they weren't hurt.

-- Posted by bam50_2004 on Wed, Mar 18, 2009, at 6:38 PM

-- Posted by bam50_2004 on Wed, Mar 18, 2009, at 6:41 PM

I agree they do need a turning lane and it was approved to be extended all the way down to Lowe's, I know because my husband worked for the company that was brought in and did the surveying and plans for it, they did the intersection by walgreen's, and plans were in motion to have it built but when the economy went so bad last year, the projects lost funding and were postponed until things get better. My husband got laid off from the company, and because TDOT lost a lot of their funding so projects like this one that we need are not going to get done. I know that they had the plans started for this and were almost ready to start but with no funding things don't get done.

-- Posted by UVilleGators on Fri, Sep 11, 2009, at 11:34 AM

If they were taken to BCMC as it is stated.Where is that at? I thought the county hospital was bought out.I must be mistaken.

-- Posted by Wheelbillie on Wed, Sep 16, 2009, at 11:30 PM