Avery Eskridge Obituary, Death – A crash report from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office has revealed new details about a fatal collision that took place on Maynardville Pike near Loyston Road late Friday night. The incident resulted in the death of one man and injuries to three other individuals.
The deceased was identified as 51-year-old Avery Eskridge. According to the official report, Eskridge was driving northbound on Maynardville Pike at a high rate of speed and was passing other vehicles by using the continuous turn lane. During this maneuver, Eskridge’s vehicle veered into the oncoming northbound traffic lane and collided head-on with another car.
The impact caused the vehicle Eskridge struck to overturn. Immediately after, a third car hit the overturned vehicle, compounding the severity of the crash. The resulting scene was significant enough to cause a full shutdown of the highway for several hours. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team, known as TANGO, responded to the site to investigate and reconstruct the sequence of events.
Authorities had initially suspected that speed played a major role in the crash. The report confirmed those suspicions, describing Eskridge’s driving as “at a high rate of speed” and noting his use of the turn lane for passing, which contributed to the head-on collision.
The report also stated that toxicology tests on Eskridge are still pending, and those results could provide additional insight into the circumstances leading to the fatal crash. Officials are awaiting findings from the Knox County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine whether other factors, such as impairment, may have played a role.
As of now, the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. While three individuals were injured in the crash, no additional details about their identities or the extent of their injuries have been released to the public. Their current conditions were not specified in the report.
The deadly crash has raised concerns about reckless driving behavior, particularly the dangers of speeding and improper use of turn lanes. Authorities are using the findings to emphasize safe driving practices, especially along busy stretches of road like Maynardville Pike, where multiple lanes and high speeds can quickly lead to catastrophic results if traffic laws are not followed.
Residents and drivers in the area were asked to remain patient during the road closure on Friday night, which lasted several hours while law enforcement thoroughly documented the scene. Emergency responders worked diligently to treat the injured and secure the crash site for investigators.
As the community awaits further updates, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has additional information to come forward. The findings from the Medical Examiner’s Office and toxicology tests are expected to provide critical details to close out the investigation.