Man, 42, killed in truck wreck and other news from areas around Chattanooga

Arkansas-LSU Live Blog

Man, 42, killed in truck wreck

CHATSWORTH, Ga. - A Chatsworth, Ga., man was killed Wednesday night when his pickup truck left the roadway and struck a utility pole, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

Michael David Ray, 42, was driving his Toyota truck on Georgia Highway 225 in Murray County when the accident occurred.

The victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, was killed in the crash, according to the GSP.


Multi-vehicle crash leaves 2 dead

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A tractor-trailer truck plowed into a wreck that occurred earlier, killing two people and injuring five others southeast of Nashville.

Police said the crash occurred around midnight Wednesday on Interstate 24 in Rutherford County. Two vehicles burst into flames.

WSMV-TV reported sheriff's deputies responding to the crash were able to pull two people to safety, but could not reach two others trapped in their car. Three of the victims were taken by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville.


Teacher accused of endangerment

OLIVER SPRINGS, Tenn. - A teacher in Roane County has been charged with exposing a person to danger at her home, quarantined during a methamphetamine investigation.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, 45-year-old Amelia E. Drennan was charged Tuesday with felony reckless endangerment in a May 26 incident.

Police said Drennan asked 24-year-old Adam E. Murray to mow the yard and gave him a key to the house, asking him to retrieve some items for her.

Drennan faces a July 29 court hearing. Her husband, William Paul Drennan, remains in the Roane County Jail, charged with evading arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing.

Amelia Drennan is a special education teacher at Oliver Springs High School. County schools director Gary Aytes said he would investigate the allegations.


Chief suspended for visiting killer

GADSDEN, Ala. - The Gadsden Civil Service Board has suspended police Chief John Crane for visiting a convicted murderer in jail over the course of three years.

The board voted Wednesday to suspend Crane for 15 days. Officials said he visited Justin Denson monthly in the Etowah County Jail. Denson was sentenced to 119 years for killing his mother, Nita Denson, in 2009.

Officials said Crane and Denson knew each other, and Crane visited Denson for religious reasons. Authorities said Crane also bought Denson a suit to wear to court and put money in his commissary account.

The Gadsden Times reported Michael Rasmussen, who represents Nita Denson's niece, asked the board to remove Crane from his position as police chief.

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