Aug. 22 – A White County teenager returning home from a day at Dollywood with a church group was killed early Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Crossville, according to an accident report released by the Crossville Police Department.
The victim was identified as Aiden James Lineville, 13, of rural White County. He was a student at White County Middle School.
He died of his injuries at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.
According to the report, two people were injured in the crash.
The crash occurred shortly before 1 a.m. at the intersection of Hwy. 70 N. and Northside Dr., according to the report by Mptl. Ethan Cunningham of CPD.
A 2019 Honda Odyssey van, operated by members of the Sparta church community and driven by Kaleb Tyler Mills, 32, of Sparta, was traveling west on Northside Dr. approaching the intersection with Hwy. 70 N., where the red flashers were activated for traffic on Northside Dr.
“…Mills stated he did not see anyone coming and therefore did not stop for the flashing red light,” Cunningham wrote in his report.
As Mills entered the intersection, the van was struck by a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Andrew Paul Pendergrass, 44, of Eureka Dr.
The impact caused both vehicles to leave the road. Pendergrass and his two passengers reported no injuries.
There were five people in the van.
The fatally injured teen was taken to Cumberland Medical Center and later transferred to UT Medical Center, where he died from his injuries later Sunday.
No charges have been filed. The report indicates the crash remains under investigation by CPD and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Memorial services have been announced for the teen who, in addition to his active roles in school and church, was also active in the Boy Scout program.
Michael Moser can be reached at mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com
