Sheriff’s investigators are still investigating a Monday afternoon crash that killed a 7-year-old girl, but the sheriff says charges are pending against the driver.
Buddy Franklin Rickets, 32, was treated and released at Skyridge Medical Center Monday after his 1996 Toyota 4 Runner left Old McClure Road and overturned, pinning Nicole Valenzuela under the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s release.
Jacob Taylor, 5, and Shayann Forgery, 8, were also riding in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Shayann was treated and released from Skyridge, Jacob is in serious but stable condition at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital.
Mr. Ricketts is the boyfriend of Trisha Taylor, mother of Jacob. The other two children are not related to each other or Mr. Ricketts.
He was delivering newspapers for the Clevland Daily Banner at the time of the crash. Not all of the children were properly restrained, the sheriff said. Speed was at least one contributing factor to the crash.
Todd South covers courts and the military for the Times Free Press. He has worked at the paper for three years and previously covered crime and safety in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. Todd’s hometown is Dodge City, Kan. He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq before returning to school for his journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Todd previously worked at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. Contact Todd ...
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