Knox Woman killed, Whitley County Jail officer, prisoner injured in wreck

The Knox County Coroner said 70-year-old Shirley Payne died when her vehicle was struck by a Whitley County Jail transport vehicle on U.S. 25E Wednesday afternoon

Whitley County officials said Ralph Childers was returning inmate to the Whitley County Detention Center about 3 p.m. following a court appearance in Knox County. As they were travelling north on U.S. 25E at the intersection with Manchester Street near the railroad crossing, Payne reportedly pulled out into traffic.

Childers was unable to stop and collided with vehicle.

Childers was taken to Barbourville Hospital with minor injuries.

Susan Thomas, the prisoner, was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Officials at UT said Thomas has been discharged.

According to Whitley County Jail Tracker, Thomas was a Knox County inmate that was being housed in Whitley County. She had been arrested for probation violation.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the wreck. However, the deputy in charge has yet to file an official report because of a family emergency.

Check back to the www.thenewsjournal.net for more details as they become available.