Two more traffic fatalities – an elderly couple – have been reported today, caused by the morning’s slippery roadways.
Marvin Whitmire, 80, and his wife Dorothy Whitmire, 78, both of Spring City, Tenn., were in a wreck at 15800 Dayton Pike this morning, said Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Mrs. Whitmire was pronounced dead at the scene, Ms. Atkinson said, while Mr. Whitmire was transported to Erlanger hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The Whitmire’s Mercury Grand Marquis hit ice while traveling south on Dayton Pike, slid across the centerline and slammed into a Dodge Caravan heading the other way, Ms. Atkinson said. The driver of the Caravan, Leroy King, 44, of Dublin, Ohio, was transported to Erlanger, along with three other passengers, she said.
Their injuries were described as non-life threatening, she said.
The investigation is continuing, Ms. Atkinson said.
In a separate wreck, Melvin Sharp, 49, of 4830 Hal Drive in Chattanooga, died this morning when his Jeep slammed into the rear of a Ford Mustang on Highway 153 at Bonny Oaks Drive, Chattanooga police reported. He was partially ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The driver of the Mustang, Jeff Cardwell, was listed in critical condition at Erlanger, police said.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.