Twin killed as brothers' truck plunges into creek

Bedford County firefighters David Boyce, left, and Randy Glover walk away from a truck which ran into a creek on Midland Road early Saturday night leaving one man dead and two others, including his twin brother, injured.
(T-G Photo by David Melson)

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Louis Emerson Davis, 47, of Naron Road died at the scene when the truck in which he was riding plunged off a culvert and landed on its roof, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

His brother, Lloyd Davis, 47, also of Shelbyville, suffered minor injuries and refused treatment, according to State Trooper William Spivey. Investigators said Lloyd was driving the truck.

The men owned Davis Brothers Motorsports of Shelbyville.

"I don't know if he drowned or died of his injuries but the only visible injuries we saw were a couple of cuts or scrapes," Spivey said of Louis Davis. "There could have been something going on inside."

Another passenger, who was not named on the accident report and whom Spivey refused to name due to the "nature" of the accident, was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville after initial treatment at Heritage Medical Center, the THP said. Spivey said he was uncertain of the extent of his injuries. Bystanders at the scene said the passenger was a stepson of one of the brothers.

The accident occurred shortly before 6 p.m., Spivey said.

"The driver was southbound on Midland Road, was negotiating a curve and (the truck) ran off the right side of the roadway and came to rest on its top," Spivey said. "It didn't appear to be a high-speed accident."

Scrape marks were visible atop a culvert over which the 2003 GMC full-size extended cab truck ran before overturning into the creek, which is two to 3 feet deep.

"All indications were that seat belts were being used," Spivey said.

A CIRT, or Critical Incident Response Team, was called from Nashville to investigate. The investigation is continuing, Spivey said Tuesday afternoon.