Earnest BidwellThe victim in Thursday's fatal crash in McMinn County, Tenn., involving two tractor trailer trucks has been identified and vehicular homicide charges have been filed against the uninjured driver of the other truck.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol said 53-year-old Delano, Tenn., resident John H. Hubbard was killed when the semi-truck tractor he was driving was struck by an oncoming semi-trailer that detached from a semi-tractor driven by 40-year-old Earnest P. Biddwell, of Decatur, Tenn.
The accident happened on state Highway 305 in West McMinn County around 8 a.m. Thursday, according to Trooper Gordon Roberts' report.
Biddwell was driving south in a 2006 Volvo truck when his trailer detached from the tractor, traveled across the center line into the path of Hubbard's 1997 Ford semi-truck, which had no trailer, the report states.
The trailer collided with Hubbard's truck causing him to run off the road and overturn. Hubbard was pronounced dead at the scene, the report states. Both men were wearing seat belts.
Trooper Roberts's report said Biddwell, of Bidwell Lane, is charged with vehicular homicide and was cited for driving on a revoked license and not having a medical card as required for truck drivers.
McMinn County Jail records show Biddwell is also charged with failure to render aid and give information, failure to give immediate notice of the accident and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Biddwell, taken into custody later, is now being held in the McMinn County Jail on $39,000 bond, jail records state.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton.