LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – A head on collision just after 8:30 am Thursday morning killed a 34-year- old La Follette man.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Jacob Claybough investigated the wreck that temporarily closed US 25W/SR 63/1600 Jacksboro Pike in front of the KROME Salon. One westbound lane soon opened and a while later, eastbound traffic was funneled up one lane of the westbound lanes. Air bags deployed as debris was scattered all over the road way.

The trooper said in his preliminary report that Adam Chapman was traveling west, toward Jacksboro, in a 2019 Ford Escape. Coming the other way, east, La Follette bound, was a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up truck driven by 31-year- old Robert Byrd of La Follette.

Chapman was pinned in the wreckage and was extricated by members of the La Follette Fire Department. Both men were transported to the La Follette Medical Center.

Traffic was down to one lane westbound with eastbound lanes closed. Eastbound traffic ended up sharing one lane of the westbound lanes to restart the traffic flow.

A medical helicopter was called to the hospital’s helipad to fly Chapman to a Knoxville hospital. He died later on Thursday morning.

Byrd was also airlifted to a Knoxville hospital.

This silver truck was headed toward Jacksboro while the blue CUV was traveling east into La Follette.

As temperatures sat in the 20s, First Responders from the La Follette Fire and the La Follette Police Departments responded with the Campbell County EMS and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Trooper Claybough amended his report on Friday afternoon to say that Byrd was not wearing a seat belt. Chapman was wearing a seat belt.

The investigation continues. Charges are pending based on the report.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/04/2021-5PM-UPDATED 02/05/2021-9PM)

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