Walter D. Humphrey dies in fatal Knoxville car crash
Walter D. Humphrey dies in fatal Knoxville car crash
Fatal Knoxville car crash death of Walter D. Humphrey
A 96-year-old man lost his life after a vehicle slammed into a Tennessee assisted living home early Saturday morning. Authorities identified the victim as Walter D. Humphrey, a resident at Shannondale of Knoxville, where the incident occurred.
According to Knoxville police, officers responded to the crash around 5:15 a.m. and found that Humphrey had been struck by a minivan that had rammed into the facility. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
Police say the driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Eleasah Williams, was reportedly experiencing suicidal and homicidal thoughts before the incident. Investigators say Williams fled an apartment complex just after 5 a.m., driving at a high speed, before careening off the road and into the building.
Court documents reveal that Williams admitted to speeding recklessly as part of a suicide attempt. She also allegedly consumed prescription medication and used a THC vape prior to the crash. Police charged her with vehicular homicide due to reckless behavior.
The crash involved the van traveling down Woodview Lane, crossing Middlebrook Pike, and ultimately slamming into the assisted living facility. Williams was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The cost to repair damage to the facility is expected to exceed $1,000, according to officials. The case remains under active investigation.