Driver hits bicyclist in Middle Valley

Monday, November 21, 2011

Driver hits bicyclist in Middle Valley

A young bicyclist injured his wrist and face when he was hit Sunday by a Ford Ranger in Middle Valley, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

In a news release, sheriff's spokeswoman Janice Atkinson said Ricky King, 55, had stopped his vehicle at the intersection of Hixson Pike and Crabtree Road. He saw just one cyclist cross in front of him on the sidewalk, he told authorities. After looking both ways, he turned right and struck a juvenile rider, who was thrown onto the hood of the Ranger.

Atkinson said the injured youngster, whose age was not release, was wearing a helmet and did not appear to have life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

No charges immediately were filed, Atkinson said.

Woman dies in Collegedale crash

A man faces charges after his passenger died in a car crash on the 5800 block of Tallant Road in Collegedale early Sunday, police said.

Michael Smith, who is in his mid-30s, was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, driving on a revoked license for a previous DUI and other offenses, Collegedale Police Chief Brian Hickman said.

About 3:30 a.m. Sunday, a Ford Ranger pickup ran off the road, hit a culvert, flipped and landed in an embankment, Hickman said.

The passenger, a female related to the driver, was killed, Hickman said. Her name will be released once the family is notified.

Smith was taken to the hospital before he was taken into custody, Hickman said.

Highway 58 business damaged in blaze

Varnell Construction Co. in Harrison suffered about $80,000 in damage from a fire Saturday morning, officials said.

Around 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire at the business, Hamilton County Emergency Services spokeswoman Amy Maxwell said.

When firefighters arrived, they saw a small fire in a back office. There were no injuries, Maxwell said.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but firefighters and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said it is not suspicious, Maxwell said.