3 die in separate auto accidents



A man was killed and five others, including three babies, were injured in crash at 4:45 p.m. Thursday onJohn Bragg HighwayinRutherfordCounty. 

Two additional motorists died in separate accidents inWarrenCounty.

The three vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of Double Springs Road and John Bragg Highway and brought traffic between Murfreesboro and Woodbury to a near stand-still.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said a 2001 Chevrolet Venture van was attempting to cross John Bragg Highway from Double Springs Road when it crossed into the path of a 1994 Ford Ranger, which was traveling eastbound on John Bragg Highway.

The vehicles collided, which sent the van into a Ford Taurus, which had stopped at a traffic light on Double Springs Road. The van rolled over, and landed on its top.

A passenger in the van, identified as 77-year-old Thomas J. Arnol, was killed. A THP report said he had been drinking and taking drugs, and was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the van, 33-year-old Amanda Vanatta, along with three children in the van, two of them four- months old along with a 1-year-old child, was injured. The children had been properly secured in child restraints, according to the report. 

The driver of the Ford Taurus was also injured and taken to the hospital. The driver of the Ford Ranger was uninjured.

The report also said Vanatta had been drinking and taking drugs, and toxicology was being tested. Criminal charges were pending, according to the THP.

One passenger was killed and four injured in a single-vehicle crash onVervilla RoadinWarrenCounty.

 Ashlyn Barnes, 17, from McMinnville, a passenger in a 1988 Chevy Blazer driven by Ramiro Ibarra, 19, of Morrison, died in the accident.

 Trooper Rodney Whiles reported that the Blazer was traveling west bound on Vervilla Roadwhen it traveled off left side of roadway, tearing down a barbed wire fence.

 The Blazer traveled approximately 1,092 feet before striking a large tree head on and coming to final rest.

 Injured were Ibarra, Geoffrey Washom, 20, of McMinnville,  Amber Bates, 17 of Morrison, and Holden Nunley, 19, of Viola.

 A motorcyclist died in the third accident early Friday off McMinnville Highway at Bybee Branch Road and Spring Valley Road

 Tomas Kaska, 28, was northbound on Spring Valley Road, approaching the intersection of Bybee Branch Road, reported Trooper Whiles.

 Kaska did not apply his brakes until he had passed the stop sign at the intersection. The motorcycle skidded through the Bybee Branch Road. His helmet, which was not secured, came off when the motorcycle laid down.

Kaska’s head struck a decorative stone landscaping wall and he died as a result.