A woman is dead after a sport utility vehicle collided with a motorcycle in Bradley County, officials said.
Two motorcycles were traveling east on Lauderdale Memorial Highway about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, according to Bob Gault, spokesman for the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. After letting the first bike pass, an SUV traveling west began a left turn onto Frontage Road and slammed into the second motorcycle.
Mr. Gault said the impact from the crash killed motorcyclist Kim Ann Loveday, 44, of Englewood, Tenn., who died at SkyRidge Hospital. No other injuries were reported, he said.
“With the warmer weather, there’s been an increase of motorcycle traffic,” Mr. Gault said. “Everyone needs to watch out for them and be aware they’re nowhere near as large as an automobile.”
According to investigators, the Chevrolet SUV driver was John Wilkins, 66, of Charleston, Tenn. He is a 29-year member of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Reserves, an organization of unpaid citizens who volunteer “whenever extra manpower is needed” with DUI investigations and crime scenes, Mr. Gault said.
Mr. Wilkins was not on duty when the accident happened off Interstate 75 at exit 33, which is near Charleston, Tenn.
Charges are pending upon completion of the investigation, but Mr. Gault said he was not sure if drugs or alcohol were involved with the crash.
“It’s early in the investigation, so we couldn’t really comment on that right now,” Mr. Gault said.