Driver, 2 pedestrians dead after car crashes into North Knoxville creek: KFD

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - (UPDATE: 7/6/26) The pedestrians were identified on Monday as 51-year-old Stephen Williams and 60-year-old Anthony Grant. The driver was identified shortly after the crash as 60-year-old Reeta Hellmund.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Knoxville police and fire crews responded to a deadly crash on North Broadway Monday morning after a car went into First Creek, according to Knoxville Fire Department officials.

KFD said the crash happened near North Broadway at Cecil Avenue in North Knoxville just after 8:30 a.m., prompting a closure from Cecil Avenue to Grainger Avenue.

The Knoxville Police Department said the car was traveling northbound when it hit a light pole and then two pedestrians on the east bank sidewalk of First Creek Greenway before veering off the west bank of First Creek and rolling down the embankment several times.

KPD said the driver, later identified as 60-year-old Reeta Hellmund, and both pedestrians died at the scene. The pedestrians have not been identified yet as they are pending next of kin.

The crash remains under investigation by KPD’s crash reconstruction personnel.