McMinn County: 3 injured in crash of 2 ATVs

UPDATEATV driver dies from wreck injuries

Three people were airlifted to Erlanger hospital tonight after two ATVs crashed on State Highway 305 in McMinn County.

Zachary Schultz 22, was driving a 2003 Yamaha ATV when his vehicle hit a 2007 Honda ATV being driven by Dylan Eichenberger, 19, of Niota, Tenn., according to Tennessee Highway Patrol spokeswoman Dalya Qualls.

Schultz, 20-year-old Malora Buckner and 19-year-old Chasity Grant were all airlifted to Erlanger hospital at about 7 p.m.

At 10:30 p.m., Qualls reported that Schultz had died, but at 11:45 p.m. she retracted, saying that he had not been officially pronounced dead.

Buckner and Grant are still in critical condition, according to Qualls.

Buckner rode on the back of Schultz's ATV and Grant rode on the back of Eichenberger's, Qualls said.

Eichenberger suffered minor injuries, Qualls said.

Schultz's vehicle hit Eichenberger's in the rear, Qualls said, throwing all four passengers off the vehicles. None of them were wearing a helmet, she said.

Speed also seems to be a factor in the accident, Qualls said.

The speed limit on the road is 55 mph.

Correction: The original version of this story reported one person had died in the accident.

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