Clarksville man charged in Red River crash that killed Air Evac pilot

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Nearly 10 months after a Jeep plunged into the Red River, killing a medical helicopter pilot, a Clarksville man has been indicted on vehicular homicide and related charges.

Following the indictment, James Henry Centers, 28, was arrested Aug. 12 on charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving, drivers to exercise due car, and violation of implied consent-enhancement only.

52-year-old Michael Atzert, an Air Evac pilot, was killed in the crash. According to his obituary, Atzert had flown about 1,361 patient flights. He was also a Navy and Army veteran, serving two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.

Interstate 24 crash sent car into Red River

As previously reported by Clarksville Now, at about 5 a.m. on Nov. 13, first responders were called to the Red River after a vehicle left the roadway near mile marker 9.6 westbound and went into the water.

Atzert, who drove a 2022 Jeep Wrangler, was hit by a 2004 Lincoln Town Car that was also traveling westbound. Both vehicles went into the median, and the Jeep continued down an embankment and into the river…

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