UPDATE: Car plunges one hundred feet off cliff near Westside Drive – WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports
UPDATE: Traffic is back open after it was closed during the Friday morning commute, police said a car plunged off a cliff here outside of the Bachman Tunnel.
It took crews more than three hours to pull a car fifty feet out of a ravine near tunnels that connect East Ridge to Chattanooga, on Westside drive.
Investigators said the car was traveling east on Ringgold Road when it came through the tunnel and bounced off the roundabout, over a guardrail, and then down an embankment.
“It’s a downhill slope, we tend to have people come in a little too quick and not slow down for the roundabout, it’s something we see happen from time to time,» said Traffic Investigator, Joe Warren.
The front passenger was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The driver and another passenger were also taken to the hospital, but are expected to be okay.
Police said speed shows up to be a factor in this accident, but it’s not the very first one to happen in the exact spot.
Channel three records showcase there have been three major accidents with injuries in the last four years.
Chattanooga Police Department use animations during crash investigations. They said dissipated driving and speed are common factors at roundabouts.
“The main thing is to come in leisurely, and just come through it at a reasonable moderate speed. The 2nd thing is to inject the roundabout, you have to yield the right away to whoever is left of you,» Warren explained.
We reached out to Chattanooga`s Department of Transportation to find out what they’re doing to keep this roundabouts safe. They said they’ve installed warning signs to remind drivers they are approaching a roundabout and to slow down.
CDOT`s records showcase there is an average of one injury accident per year at the location and it is not considered a high accident area and that drivers just need to slow down.
Engineers with the Tennessee Department of Transportation are assessing the harm and will substitute the guardrails.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Chattanooga Police have identified the car involved in a crash Friday morning as a Kia Optima.
Officials say the car was traveling East on Ringgold Rd. when it came through the Bachman Tunnels and to a roundabout. The car bounced off the roundabout, over a guard rail, and then down a 50-yard embankment.
The crash happened around Trio:30 a.m.
Officials say the front passenger was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver and a rear passenger were transported with minor injuries.
PREVIOUS STORY: A car plunged down a cliff almost one hundred feet early Friday morning, according to Chattanooga Police. The crash happened at the west end of the Bachman Tunnels that connect East Ridge to Chattanooga, near Westside Drive. The car appeared to have mis-navigated the roundabout, crashing through the guardrail.
#Cracking: Here’s a look at the cliff on Westside Dr. where crews are working to pull up the car. @WRCB pic.twitter.com/lbhUBw7Stj
It happened just after Trio:00 a.m. Friday morning.
#Violating: Firefighters going up and down this hill to get to the crash. Told the car is more than 100ft down the ravine. @WRCB pic.twitter.com/WMe0pxA1Ru
Officials say the car crashed and then went off a cliff.
.@WRCB One person being treated by EMS. Emerges to be okay. Not sure if there are any other passengers inwards car.
Westside Drive is closed while officials work to clear the scene. Traffic is being diverted before the roundabout to Bachman Tunnel.
Channel three has a squad on scene. Stick with us for the latest developments.
UPDATE: Car plunges one hundred feet off cliff near Westside Drive, Chattanooga News, Weather – Sports
UPDATE: Car plunges one hundred feet off cliff near Westside Drive – WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports
UPDATE: Traffic is back open after it was closed during the Friday morning commute, police said a car plunged off a cliff here outside of the Bachman Tunnel.
It took crews more than three hours to pull a car fifty feet out of a ravine near tunnels that connect East Ridge to Chattanooga, on Westside drive.
Investigators said the car was traveling east on Ringgold Road when it came through the tunnel and bounced off the roundabout, over a guardrail, and then down an embankment.
“It’s a downhill slope, we tend to have people come in a little too quick and not slow down for the roundabout, it’s something we see happen from time to time,» said Traffic Investigator, Joe Warren.
The front passenger was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The driver and another passenger were also taken to the hospital, but are expected to be okay.
Police said speed shows up to be a factor in this accident, but it’s not the very first one to happen in the exact spot.
Channel three records display there have been three major accidents with injuries in the last four years.
Chattanooga Police Department use animations during crash investigations. They said dispelled driving and speed are common factors at roundabouts.
“The main thing is to come in leisurely, and just come through it at a reasonable moderate speed. The 2nd thing is to inject the roundabout, you have to yield the right away to whoever is left of you,» Warren explained.
We reached out to Chattanooga`s Department of Transportation to find out what they’re doing to keep this roundabouts safe. They said they’ve installed warning signs to remind drivers they are approaching a roundabout and to slow down.
CDOT`s records display there is an average of one injury accident per year at the location and it is not considered a high accident area and that drivers just need to slow down.
Engineers with the Tennessee Department of Transportation are assessing the harm and will substitute the guardrails.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Chattanooga Police have identified the car involved in a crash Friday morning as a Kia Optima.
Officials say the car was traveling East on Ringgold Rd. when it came through the Bachman Tunnels and to a roundabout. The car bounced off the roundabout, over a guard rail, and then down a 50-yard embankment.
The crash happened around Three:30 a.m.
Officials say the front passenger was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver and a rear passenger were transported with minor injuries.
PREVIOUS STORY: A car plunged down a cliff almost one hundred feet early Friday morning, according to Chattanooga Police. The crash happened at the west end of the Bachman Tunnels that connect East Ridge to Chattanooga, near Westside Drive. The car appeared to have mis-navigated the roundabout, crashing through the guardrail.
#Cracking: Here’s a look at the cliff on Westside Dr. where crews are working to pull up the car. @WRCB pic.twitter.com/lbhUBw7Stj
It happened just after Trio:00 a.m. Friday morning.
#Cracking: Firefighters going up and down this hill to get to the crash. Told the car is more than 100ft down the ravine. @WRCB pic.twitter.com/WMe0pxA1Ru
Officials say the car crashed and then went off a cliff.
.@WRCB One person being treated by EMS. Shows up to be okay. Not sure if there are any other passengers inwards car.
Westside Drive is closed while officials work to clear the scene. Traffic is being diverted before the roundabout to Bachman Tunnel.
Channel three has a squad on scene. Stick with us for the latest developments.