Charges Pending in Three Vehicle Crash

According to Trooper Donoho, Vaughan Banks, of Scottsville, Ky., was operating a southbound 1990 Nissan Altima on Highway 10, when he crossed the center line and was traveling south in the north bound lane. Joseph McGee, of Dixon Springs, was driving north on Highway 10 in a 1998 Buick, when he swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision and was sideswiped by Banks’ automobile. He came to rest off the roadway on the east side. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Makayla McCoy, a college student in Cookeville, who resides in Hartsville, was also driving northbound behind McGee in a 1997 Dodge 1500 when she was struck head on. Both vehicles came to final rest in the northbound lane.

McGee was taken by private vehicle to the Hartsville Hospital for minor injuries, McCoy was transported by the Macon County EMS to Macon General Hospital for possible injuries and Banks was carried to Vanderbilt by a medical helicopter.

“Open containers of alcohol were recovered from inside Banks vehicle,” stated the Trooper, “which could be to blame for the violent crash.”

Donoho also said that Banks was semi conscious at the scene and the door had to be pried open to remove him from his automobile at the 6:40 p.m. crash. He was not wearing a seat belt but the other two drivers were. Charges are pending against Vaughan Banks.

The scene was finally cleared around 10:00 p.m. and Trooper Donoho was assisted at the crash site by Deputy Jacob Law and Deputy Pam Whitlow, of the Macon County Sheriffs Office.

First responders were the Macon County Sheriffs Office, Macon County EMS, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Macon County Rescue Squad, Lafayette Fire Department, and the Macon County Chronicle.