A fatal collision on Millertown Pike in Knox County has left one person dead and resulted in the arrest of 20-year-old Mason Shumate, who now faces charges of vehicular homicide. The head-on crash, investigated by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, occurred last night. According to WVLT, emergency personnel pronounced one driver dead at the scene, while Shumate was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center before being charged.
Found outside his vehicle with injuries and displaying signs of intoxication, Shumate was later apprehended. WBIR reported that witnesses to the accident observed a black truck, driven by Shumate, swerving across the line several times before the crash, and unsuccessfully attempted to alert Shumate by flashing their lights. After the collision, these same witnesses pulled Shumate from the wreckage.
The incident took place near Brandville Road around 10:15 PM Shumate, who refused a sobriety test, had slurred speech and appeared to emit an odor of alcohol. Initially, he claimed his driver’s side rod was bad when asked about the crash. Court records also indicate he declined medical treatment at the scene. “Officers said Shumate appeared to have slurred speech and he smelled like alcohol,” according to a WBIR interview with authorities…