Fayetteville man dies in wreck

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
By David Melson

Rescuers from Volunteer Fire Services Inc. place inflatable devices under an SUV that had been driven by James Scott Fee, of Fayetteville, who died in the accident.
(T-G Photo by David Melson)
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A Fayetteville man died when his sport utility vehicle plunged off State Highway 130 West's narrow shoulder and overturned into a deep ditch about a mile north of Pleasant Grove around 2:45 p.m. Monday.

James Scott Fee, 47, was apparently killed instantly when he was thrown out of the large, late-model Toyota Sequoia, which landed atop him, State Trooper Jackie Smith said.

"He was headed east (toward Shelbyville)," Smith said. "He just ran off the road and struck a tree, overturned and was ejected."

Rescue workers were forced to use inflatable devices to raise the SUV enough to remove Fee's body.

Skid marks and a line of destroyed mail and newspaper boxes indicated Fee traveled some distance after running off the right side of the road and striking the tree.

Highway 130's shoulders are unusually narrow on both sides, little more than the width of a tire, with deep embankments and ditches in many areas. Several persons have been killed over the years after running off the roadway and overturning.

"The whole road is like this -- get off just a little and you're done for," said Rob Rhodes, who lives across the highway from the accident site and heard the crash.

Smith said he was unable to determine whether Fee was wearing a seat beat.

Comments

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First of all i want to say that my prayers are with the family. I know the pain that this hwy causes. I lost a Daughter 2 years ago in this same streach of road. I also had a neice that ran off the road and into this same fence. I have lived out hwy 130 all my life and i can't tell you how many accidents their has been because of the shoulder NOT being wide enough. I think the county needs to take a better look at this road and put some of the tax payers money to uses on it. And yes i understand how hard it may be to do this but, on the other hand i know it can be done if you want it bad enough. All i am asking is that you look at every option before saying that it can't be done! Thanks

-- Posted by polebear on Tue, Aug 19, 2008, at 12:18 PM

This is a dangerous road if you drive above the speed limit or get distracted. I have lived out this road for years. Sometimes it is another car coming at you over the center line. The curves and dip in pavement with the narrow shoulders have proved to be deadly to many. I know of six fatal accidents in this one mile stretch. It is not always someone speeding, some of the problems are people going very slow and others being impatient and passing on a double line. Periodically we have a State car out here which helps to make people aware of their driving.

-- Posted by nailman on Tue, Aug 19, 2008, at 12:58 PM

If I am not mistaken 130 is a state highway. Good luck getting them to do something. Ilive on state highway 269 between wartrace and the blockade runner, there is a total blind spot if coming from cascade school to wartrace. when pulling from my drive there is a total of 50 feet to the curve and then you cant see anything. Try pulling out when school lets out and you are taking your life in your own hands. I have seen numerous wrecks in this are. I contacted the local state garage on hwy 64 east and had them look at this , their answer was we dont have the equipment here to fix this situation it would have to come from nashville The hwy 130 is a bad road you should drive a dump truck on that road. In front of martin stables is a bad spot to meet any thing. No shoulder to ride. I agree there are a few spots on these state highways that need attention!!!!

-- Posted by tn.moonshiner on Tue, Aug 19, 2008, at 2:34 PM

IT TAKES A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS TO BRING UP A SORE SUBJECT ABOUT ROADS IN BEDFORD COUNTY FUNDED BY OUR STATE,AND BY THE APPARENT LACK OF INFLUENCE ON ROAD BUILDING FROM OUR LOCALLY ELECTED STATE LAWMAKERS.THE HIGHWAY THROUGH PLEASANT GROVE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A 4-LANE ROUTE TO HUNTSVILLE,ALABAMA,AS IN RECENT T-G NEWS ABOUT OUR EXISTING HIGHTECH CORRIDOR THAT MONEY FROM FEDERAL FUNDS WAS GRANTED.YOU CANNOT GET TO HUNTSVILLE(HIGH TECH CENTER) FROM SHELBYVILLE SAFELY,OR RAPIDLY SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR BEDFORD COUNTY STATE HIGHWAYS EAST, WEST AND SOUTH ALL ARE TWO LANE,MOSTLY UNIMPROVED SINCE THE 1980'S.SOME HIGHTECH CORRIDOR WE HAVE?OUR ELECTED STATE LAWMAKERS SHOULD HELP GET OUR ROADS BROUGHT UP TO HIGH TECH CORRIDOR STANDARDS.

-- Posted by grandpat on Tue, Aug 19, 2008, at 3:30 PM

Thanks you tn.moonshinner for correcting me on it being a state hwy. I appoligize if i afended anyone. Thanks

-- Posted by polebear on Tue, Aug 19, 2008, at 4:39 PM