Trooper dies of natural causes, vehicle crashes

NASHVILLE - A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper died of what officials say were natural causes after he crashed his vehicle in Knox County.

Dalya Qualls, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Safety, said the death of 53-year-old Michael Slagle on Friday morning was not related to winter weather, though roads were icy.

He was discovered unresponsive and was unable to be revived at the scene of the crash.

He joined the patrol in 1986 and served in Campbell, Union and Knox counties during his tenure. He is originally from Grainger County and is survived by a wife and a daughter.

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