(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – On Tuesday, April 12, around 1:45 am, Smith County 911 received a call reporting a vehicle accident around the 262 Mile Marker East bound on I-40.
Upon arriving on scene, Sgt. Jimmy Lankford of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department found a 2008 Dodge Nitro that had run into the median and up an embankment. Smith County EMS and Smith County Rescue Squad also arrived on scene to assist the occupants out of the vehicle, due to the steep incline.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Chester Gagat, 57, and the passenger of the vehicle was identified as Leandra Sranko, 32, both from Ohio. Gagat claimed he was traveling East on I-40 when he fell asleep in a curve which caused him to exit the left side of the roadway and travel up the steep embankment.
Both occupants were transported to Riverview Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.
Deputy Robin Bellar of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department also assisted with the scene and Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol worked the crash scene.
M&W Towing removed the vehicle from the scene.
