UPDATE: Investigation Continues into Fatal Early Morning Accident on Alcoa Highway

UPDATE: Investigation Continues into Fatal Early Morning Accident on Alcoa Highway

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE:

Knoxville Police Department officials have released more details about a deadly crash early Wednesday morning on Alcoa Highway near Cherokee Trail.

KPD officials say officers responded around 7:30 a.m. to the crash involving three vehicles: a sedan, an SUV and a Fedex truck.

Officials say a preliminary investigation indicates the sedan was driving south along the highway when the truck tried to merge lanes, hitting the sedan. The sedan then spun across the median, to be hit by the SUV.

The driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, while the SUV driver was taken to UTMC for severe, non-life-threatening injuries.

ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police are investigating an early morning fatal crash on Alcoa Highway.

The crash happened near Cherokee Trail, one person was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The investigation is in the early stages, our Pete Michaels reporting that two cars were involved in that crash.

An Investigation is Underway after a Knoxville Family Falls Victim to Swatting

An Investigation is Underway after a Knoxville Family Falls Victim to Swatting

An investigating is underway after a Knoxville family falls victim to a swatting call.

Knoxville Police showed up at their home Monday and forced them out, it was all caught on their ring door bell.

In the video, the mother is shouting, and police are telling her to get down.

Swatting is when somebody calls in a fake threat to police and gives them the address of an unsuspecting person.

Swatting Victim Tatyana Smith there were five or six cop cars and even more officers at her house. The security camera video also captured the nervous exchange between her and the police.

Police told Smith they were looking for a 17-year-old after the anonymous teen reportedly told a suicide hotline that they killed a 4-year-old boy at that house. That claim was found to false.

A few months ago, the FBI started a swatting database to better track where swatting attempts are happening and how to hold people accountable for phony threats.

Knox County Election Commission Approves Ballot, Early Voting Locations and Other Details for 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election

Knox County Election Commission Approves Ballot, Early Voting Locations and Other Details for 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election

The Knox County Election Commission met on Thursday, July 6th and approved the ballot, early voting locations and times, and other details for the 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election.

ELECTION SCHEDULE

The Election schedule for the 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election is as follows:

  • Monday, July 31, 2023 – Final day to register to vote before election
  • Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – First day of early voting period
  • Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – Final day to request an absentee ballot
  • Thursday, August 24, 2023 – Final day of early voting period
  • Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – Election Day (POLLS OPEN 8 AM TO 8 PM)

BALLOT

The offices on the ballot will be:

  • Mayor
  • City Council At-Large, Seat A
  • City Council At-Large, Seat B
  • City Council At-Large, Seat C
  • City Council, District 5 (only residents of the 5th District will vote in this contest)
  • Municipal Judge

In the City Council elections, the top two vote getters in the primary move on to the General Election.

In both the Mayor and Municipal Judge elections, the top two vote getters move on to the General Election UNLESS one candidate receives 50% plus one, in which case only the top vote getter moves on to the General Election.

A sample ballot can be viewed at:  https://knoxcounty.org/election/2023elections/pdfs/2023-8-29-SampleBallot.pdf

EARLY VOTING DAYS AND TIMES

Early voting begins Wednesday, August 9 and goes through Thursday, August 24 (excluding Sundays).

Hours are generally 10 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday. There are a handful of exceptions, and all details can be viewed at: https://knoxcounty.org/election/2023elections/pdfs/2023-8-29-EarlyVotingDailySchedule.pdf

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

There will be six locations across Knoxville utilized for early voting:

  • City-County Building – main floor (400 Main Street)
  • Downtown West (1645 Downtown West Blvd., Unit 40)
  • Eternal Life Harvest Center at Five Points (2410 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.)
  • Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Highway)
  • Meridian Baptist Church (6513 Chapman Highway)
  • New Harvest Park (4775 New Harvest Lane)

CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

Candidates for these offices have campaign financial reports due on the following dates:

  • 2nd Quarter –     Monday, July 10, 2023 (covering the period April 1 – June 30, 2023)
  • Pre-Primary –    Tuesday, August 22, 2023 (covering the period July 1 – August 19, 2023)
  • 3rd Quarter –      Tuesday, October 10, 2023 (covering the period August 20 – September 30, 2023)

These reports will be posted upon receipt by the Election Commission at: https://knoxcounty.org/election/candidate_info/index.php

PUBLIC MACHINE TEST

As part of its preparation for the 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election, the Knox County Election Commission will conduct a required voting machine test on Wednesday, July 26 at 8:30 am at its warehouse at 1000 N. Central Street. This test is one to two hours in duration. Candidates, the press, and the public are invited to attend.

For more information, visit https://knoxcounty.org/election/ or call the Knox County Election Commission at 865-215-2480.

McGhee Tyson Airport to Receive $2 Million from FAA for Green Energy Initiatives

McGhee Tyson Airport to Receive $2 Million from FAA for Green Energy Initiatives

Source: Google Earth

Knoxville, TN (WOKI)

McGhee Tyson Airport makes the cut to receive a chunk of nearly $268 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration for green energy initiatives.

The FAA announced Tuesday that the airport in Alcoa along with 20 others is awarded some $92 million of the grant money to support solar panels, electric buses, charging stations and more.

McGhee Tyson will receive $2 million to purchase zero emissions vehicles and charging stations; it appears to be the only Tennessee airport on the FAA’s list of grant recipients.

The overall goal is part of the United States Aviation Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions in the aviation sector by 2050.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Announces Search for Armed and Dangerous Suspect

Tennessee Highway Patrol Announces Search for Armed and Dangerous Suspect

Jacob Kennamer (Courtesy THP)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Highway Patrol has announced they are on the lookout for a suspect they say is armed and dangerous.

THP officials say troopers in Campbell County found a white Lexus belonging to Jacob Kennamer out of Kentucky, Sunday, July 9, along I-75 N near mile-marker 138.

Officials report Kennamer was last known to have stayed at a hotel in Rocky Top, and that he is also suspected to be “experiencing a medical emergency.”

Those with information are being asked to call 865-544-3384 option 0.

Knoxville Fire Department Asking Motorists to Move Over for Emergency Vehicle after Three Incidents Involving Their Equipment

Knoxville Fire Department Asking Motorists to Move Over for Emergency Vehicle after Three Incidents Involving Their Equipment

The Knoxville Fire department is reminding motorists to move over when you see emergency vehicles on the road.

KFD trucks have been involved in three separate accidents while on scene responding to calls. Fortunately, no one has been hurt or killed in these incidents. The latest involved a car which ran into a fire engine stopped on the scene of an interstate accident and was parked across the road blocking that accident.

Tennessee state law requires motorists to move over into an adjacent lane of traffic when safe to do so or to reduce their speed when approaching emergency vehicles.

The upsurge in KFD accidents is concerning, given the high cost of equipment damage and the possibility that a firefighter or police officer could be seriously injured or killed while working on an emergency scene on the highway.

The Trial for a Former Oak Ridge and Knoxville Police Accused of Rape is Underway

The Trial for a Former Oak Ridge and Knoxville Police Accused of Rape is Underway

Photo courtesy of WVLT

The trial for a former Oak Ridge and Knoxville Police officer charged with rape, assault and other charges in underway.

36 year-old Cassen Jackson-Garrison, was indicted by a Knox County Grand Jury in October 2021.

Authorities say they investigated at least two separate allegations by juvenile victims and say it’s possible there are other victims. Their investigation remains on-going.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Special Crimes Unit of the Knoxville Police Department.

TOSHA Investigating Following a Fatal Trench Collapse in South Knoxville

TOSHA Investigating Following a Fatal Trench Collapse in South Knoxville

An investigation is underway by TOSHA after a man is killed in a trench collapse in South Knoxville.

Workers were installing a sewer line along Berry Road when the man was covered in dirt while working 10 feet below the ground. Workers tried to remove the dirt, the man’s son was also working on the crew.

OSHA rules say that trenches 5 feet deep or greater require a protective system like a trench box. Rural Metro says they have not seen a trench box at the scene. Officials say the man’s body was freed at around 6:30 p.m. last night.

An Investigation is Underway in Roane County Following Fatal Accident on Interstate 40

An Investigation is Underway in Roane County Following Fatal Accident on Interstate 40

An investigation is underway in Roane County following a fatal accident that closed Interstate 40 East for hours.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol says 37 year-old Charles Isabell was driving a tractor-trailer when he ran off the road. When he got back on, he crossed over both lanes and then hit a rock embankment and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another car was involved in Friday’s accident, it hit the tractor-trailer when it got back on the roadway but that driver was not injured.

Tennessee Soccer Coach Arrest on Multiple Charges Including Rape of a Child after Videos of Attacks Found on Phone

Tennessee Soccer Coach Arrest on Multiple Charges Including Rape of a Child after Videos of Attacks Found on Phone

Photo courtesy of WVLT

A Tennessee soccer coach is accused of drugging and raping children and recording videos of the attacks.

63 year-old Camilo Campos who worked in Franklin, outside Nashville, reportedly recorded himself raping unconscious boys between the ages of 9 and 17 over the course of 20 years according to the Franklin Police Department.

Only two victims have been identified even though detectives say recordings of the rapes of at least 10 children were found on his phone which was left at a restaurant and employees found the videos and called police.

He is in custody on multiple charges including child rape with more charges expected.