Vehicles Collide on Hwy 52 West

The accident happened around 5:20 p.m. and three people sustained non-threatening injuries.

THP Trooper Danny Fisher was the lead investigator and he was assisted by Trooper Justin Mote, THP Sgt. Ashley Mercer and the Macon County Sheriffs Office. 

According to Trooper Fisher, 61-year-old Kenneth Vanzandt, of Lafayette, was traveling east on Highway 52 West in a maroon 1993 Lincoln Town Car when his car hydroplaned in the rainy weather conditions. “He crossed over into the west bound lane and collided head on with a green 1998 Jeep Cherokee, driven by  39-year-old Anita Sanders, of Fountain Run, Kentucky,” said Trooper Fisher.

“Vanzandt was traveling alone and there were two passengers in the Sanders vehicle,” noted Trooper Fisher. “Vanzandt was not injured and Sanders was transported to MCGH by ambulance for treatment.”

The front seat passenger riding with Sanders was 44-year-old Richard Tobin, who was transported to Macon County General Hospital by private vehicle for treatment. The back seat passenger was 41-year-old Joseph Bell and he was carried to Skyline Hospital in Nashville, by ground ambulance, suffering from a leg injury.

The vehicles came to final rest in the west bound lane.

“Rain was a contributing factor in the accident, and no charges were filed,” added Fisher.

 First responders were the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Macon County Sheriffs Office, Macon County EMS and the Macon County Chronicle.