2 dead, 2 injured in Alcoa Highway crash, officials say

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Two people died and two were injured after a crash on Alcoa Highway Sunday afternoon, according to the Alcoa Police Department.

APD officers and Alcoa Fire Department personnel responded to a multi-car crash at Alcoa Highway and Wheeler Road around 12:45 p.m.

According to APD and Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Critical Incident Response Team, a white sedan with two people inside was determined to be traveling at a “high rate of speed” when the driver lost control, crossed a grass median and struck a southbound traveling SUV carrying two people.

When the white sedan hit the SUV, officials said it broke in half and left the roadway, eventually resting at the wood line.

The driver of the white sedan, later identified as Frank Winkler, 81 of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene.

AMR transported the passenger, identified as Nancy Winkler, 82 of Knoxville, to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in critical condition. However, they later died in the hospital from their injuries, according to APD.

AMR also transported the people inside the black SUV, Betty Martin, 78, and a 13-year-old girl, to UTMC with serious injuries. A release stated they were in stable condition.

Both northbound and southbound lanes closed following the crash. They reopened several hours later, according to an update by APD.

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