Whitley Co. woman suffers burns to 40 percent of her body

A 19-year-old Whitley County woman and a Campbell County, Tennessee man are recovering after suffering burns to a significant portion of their bodies when an ATV they were in struck a gas well late Wednesday evening in northern Tennessee.

Not much was left of this RZR after it struck a gas well last week in northern Tennessee.

Anna Anderson, who is from eastern Whitley County in the Highway 904 area, is currently being treated at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. She suffered burns to 40 percent of her body, including her face, both arms and one leg, according to her mother, Stephanie Anderson.

The accident happened in the Wooldridge-Newcomb, Tennessee area about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Stephanie Anderson said that Anna was riding in a RZR side-by-side with Cameron Ballard of the Newcomb, Tennessee area driving. There were a few other people on four-wheelers out riding with them.

“They went to turn around and hit a gas well. There was no kind of signs or anything up showing that it was there. They didn’t see it. When they backed up, the tire nicked it and when it nicked it, I guess gas just ignited,” Stephanie Anderson said. “The RZR there is nothing left of it but the frame.”

Both Anna Anderson and Ballard were taken to Jellico Community Hospital and then flown to Vanderbilt, which has a world-class 25-bed burn center.

Stephanie Anderson said that Ballard apparently suffered burns to about 20 percent of his body.

Stephanie Anderson said they expect to find out over the next couple of days whether Anna will have to have skin grafts.

“They expect her to make a complete recovery. They are just waiting to see about surgery,” Stephanie Anderson said.

No one else was injured during the accident.

Stephanie Anderson asked that people keep her daughter and Ballard in their thoughts and prayers.