Investigators still seeking answers in wake of crash that killed Tenn. woman

Local officials are unsure exactly what caused a single vehicle crash that killed a Tennessee woman in southern Whitley County Saturday afternoon.

Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced Kristal Michelle Taylor, 44, of Alcoa, dead at the scene at 2:18 p.m.

No autopsy was ordered, but Croley said that a routine toxicology test will be conducted to determine whether drugs or alcohol was involved.

Both Croley and Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said that neither drug nor alcohol involvement is suspected at this time.

A witness told police that she felt like Taylor was going faster than she should have been, but aside from that there were no obvious contributing factors to the crash, Harrell noted.

"We don’t really know exactly what happened on this thing," Harrell said.

The accident occurred on Ky. 1804 about 1:30 p.m. near Lot-Mud Creek Road.

Taylor was driving a newer model Ford Explorer east on the Ky. 1804 when she crashed head-on into a bridge abutment.

"She was going down the straightaway on Ky. 1804 towards Boston Elementary School and struck the railroad overpass, which was a rock wall," Croley said.

"The road conditions were dry. They weren’t slick. There were no skid marks. At this time we don’t have any contributing factors."

No seatbelt was in use but the airbag did deploy, Croley said.

Taylor was the only occupant in the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

South Whitley Volunteer Fire Department and the Jellico Rescue Squad had to extricate Taylor’s body from the vehicle.

Taylor’s mother lived about one-quarter mile from the accident scene, Croley said.

Lt. Millard Root, Deputy Cody Harrell and Croley are continuing the investigation. Members of the South Whitley Volunteer Fire Department, Jellico Rescue Squad and Whitley County EMS also assisted at the scene.