Deadly Crash Update

Chattanooga police have provided updates on several serious crashes that have happened in the last 24 hours, including the identification of a truck driver killed in a fiery crash in I-75 last night. Around 11 pm Monday there was a fatal wreck on I-75 near Ooltewah involving two 18-wheelers.

A 2007 Kenworth tractor trailer driven by Allen R. Saxton, 46, of Albion, Penn. was stopped in the roadway because of the late night construction when a 2007 Freightliner tractor trailer driven by Ronnie Darden, 37, of Dekalb County, ga. rear-ended the stopped tractor trailer.

The 2007 Freightliner and the all the trailers caught fire,.

Darden was killed and Saxton was rushed to Erlanger where he was treated and released.

Earlier on Monday investigators were called to 700 Old Dallas Rd. on a possible fatal crash where a vehicle had struck a bicycle.

The driver, 22-year-old Cody Pinson lost control and slid across the double yellow lines into the south lane onto a sidewalk colliding with a 17-year-old bicyclist. The cyclist was thrown onto the windshield and onto the roof of the car. He was transported to Erlanger Hospital with serious injuries and is still in critical condition. Charges are pending.

And around 5:00 pm Monday there was a 6-car crash in the 7400 block of Old Lee Hwy that involved a Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy. According to witnesses Deputy James E. Spates was traveling east on Bonny Oaks Dr. in his police cruiser running emergency traffic, with blue lights and sirens activated and failed to yield right way at the intersection.

Witnesses said a Chevy Minivan driven by Elvia Carranza was headed west on Jenkins Rd., making a left turn onto Bonny Oaks with the green light, when the police cruiser collided with the minivan flipping both vehicles on their tops.

The minivan then collided with another vehicle which started a chain reaction of four other vehicles colliding with each other.

Carranza, her husband and 3 children were taken to Erlanger with minor injuries. Deputy Spates was taken to Erlanger with leg and back injuries.

The drivers of the other vehicles were not injured. All parties involved have been treated and released or are expected to be treated and released. The investigation is still ongoing.

And then shortly after the 5 pm accident, Investigators responded to 2800 Rossville Blvd. on a serious traffic accident with a female being ejected from a vehicle. A Mazda MX3 driven by Pamela Green, 23, was traveling at a high rate of speed when she lost control and struck a Jeep Cherokee.

The victim Regina Ragon, 38, who was reported not to be wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle thru the passenger side window. Ms. Ragon was taken to Erlanger Hospital with a serious head injury. She is in stable condition.

Green was cited for Traveling to Fast for Conditions and additional charges are pending.