Dekalb woman dies in I-40 crash

APRIL 19, 2005
Authorities identified a 28-year-old Smithville woman as the fatality involved in Sunday afternoon's six-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 east of the Highway 109 interchange.
Martisha A. League died in a massive "chain reaction" traffic accident Sunday afternoon on the I-40 westbound land near mile marker 234 in Wilson County. League and found others were riding in a 2000 Pontiac Montana minivan when the crash happened. Authorities are still unclear who was driving the minivan.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is conducting an extensive investigation into the six-vehicle crash which killed Teague and sent five other occupants to area hospitals, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Safety. The TDOS – which heads the THP – explained the THP's Critical Incident Response Team is overseeing the investigation, which could take another week. Charges could be filed based on the outcome, the press release said.
The crash happened near 5:40 p.m. Sunday on the westbound lane of I-40 as traffic slowed in the same area because of an earlier crash. Investigators believe the crash happened as a result of "the failure to stop by several vehicles," the press release said.
Sixteen people were riding in the six vehicles involved in the crash. Two motorists – Victoria Dyer of Smithville and Dana C. Ragan of Kingston Springs – were airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dyer, 23, was riding in the minivan with League while Ragan, 46, was driving a 2000 Isuzu Trooper.
Three others injured in the six-vehicle crash were transported to area hospitals. Ryan K. Lyons, 26, was taken to Summit Medical Center while James Evans, 28, was transported to University Medical Center. Lyons and Evans, both of Smithville, were riding in the minivan with League.
Katherine R. Wolsk, 39, of Knoxville, was driving a 2005 Dodge Stratus when the crash occurred. She was injured and taken to Summit Medical Center.
The remaining three vehicles involved in the crash – a 2001 Ford F-150 pickup truck, a 1994 Cadillac and 2000 Ford Windstar minivan – were carrying nine motorists who were not injured in the crash. A fourth motorist riding in the minivan with League was not injured as well.