KNOX COUNTY, TN – The Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has released findings from its investigation into a deadly crash that occurred last week, pointing to driver fatigue as the likely cause.
According to investigators, the driver, 19-year-old Devan Lawson of Gallipolis, Ohio, is believed to have fallen asleep at the wheel before his Dodge pickup truck veered off the roadway. The truck reportedly rolled several times before coming to rest in the median.
Authorities confirmed that Lawson was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The force of the rollover ejected him from the vehicle, and he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
KCSO noted that there was no evidence of impairment or excessive speed, further supporting their conclusion that fatigue was the primary factor leading to the fatal wreck.
“This is a tragic reminder that fatigue can be just as dangerous as other risky driving behaviors,” a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said. “Even a split second of drowsiness can have catastrophic consequences.”
The Sheriff’s Office and local safety advocates are urging drivers to take precautions against drowsy driving, such as:
- Resting adequately before getting behind the wheel
- Pulling over in a safe location if feeling tired or drowsy
- Avoiding long drives late at night or during natural periods of fatigue
- Wearing a seatbelt at all times, no matter the distance being traveled
Officials stressed that seatbelt use remains the single most effective way to prevent serious injury or death in the event of a crash.
As the community mourns the loss of a young life, authorities hope that Lawson’s tragic accident will serve as a reminder to others about the dangers of drowsy driving.
“Please, always wear your seatbelt and avoid driving when drowsy,” the KCSO statement read. “Even a momentary lapse in alertness can have tragic consequences.”
Would you like me to also create a public safety awareness sidebar (with facts about drowsy driving statistics and prevention tips) to accompany this? It could make it more useful as a community safety release.
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