By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Tennessee Highway Patrol has released details of Friday evening’s collision between a tour bus and a car on Hwy. 79 South.
The driver of the tour bus was unharmed but the driver of the car was transported to Henry Co. Medical Center. His condition report was still unavailable Saturday morning.
As WENK/WTPR reported Friday night, the bus was hit by a car, causing the bus to careen down a deep embankment on the side of the roadway.
According to Lt. Brad Wilbanks of the Highway Patrol, the tour bus was traveling northbound on Hwy. 79 and the Nissan Altima driven by Francis Grade IV, age 31, of Paris, was southbound.
The THP investigation showed that Grade attempted to make a left turn onto a private business entrance and traveled into the direct path of the tour bus, striking the bus in its front end. After impact, the Nissan rotated in a counterclockwise manner, reaching final rest position facing south, according to the report.
The tour bus was driven by Donald Collins, age 67, of Shelbyville, Ky. Collins told WENK/WTPR at the scene Friday night that his bus and three others were en route to Fort Campbell to pick up soldiers to transport them to Fort Polk when the accident happened.
Collins said the car “hit me so hard, I can’t believe I’m o.k.” Collins was alone in the bus when the accident happened.
Multiple agencies responded to the accident, including THP, Henry Co. Sheriff’s Office, Paris Fire Department and Henry Co. EMS.
Trooper Jeremy Byars investigated.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin
