John Wesley Bennett
Four people were killed in a wreck in Meigs County on Friday afternoon, and the driver of the other vehicle fled on foot. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and THP’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) are seeking any information that may aid in the investigation of this incident.
The preliminary information indicates that at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, John Wesley Bennett, 34, white male of Decatur, Tn., caused the deaths of four innocent people. According to the preliminary report by the THP, 38-year-old Andrew Blackford from Murfreesboro, 37-year-old Samantha Norris from Maynardville, 36-year-old Christopher Denton and 62-year-old Paula Stevens from Dunlap, were all killed in that three-vehicle crash.
The THP said Mr. Blackford was driving a Nissan Maxima and Mr. Denton a Pathfinder.
The report says, both vehicles were traveling northbound on Highway 58. Bennett was traveling southbound when a trailer connected to his vehicle detached traveling into the northbound lanes striking both vehicles. The Maxima came to rest in the middle of the highway. The Pathfinder was overturned and came to rest on the right shoulder.
The report says Bennett was under the influence at the time of the crash and is being called a person of interest.
The THP is asking for the public’s assistance in providing information that will aid investigators in locating and apprehending Bennett. The THP has secured multiple felony warrants with the Meigs County District Attorney’s Office for Bennett’s arrest due to his actions which caused the crash and death of four people.
After the crash Bennett fled the scene on foot abandoning his vehicle near the scene of the incident.
Officials said, "The THP stresses the importance of assisting our investigators to apprehend Bennett, we are asking for your help. The THP is also asking you to help us help the families whose hearts have been broken due Bennett’s actions."
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Tennessee Highway Patrol at 1-800-305-2201 and request to speak with Sergeant Thomas W. Clower of THP’s Criminal Investigations Division.