Tennessee Highway Patrol Concludes Trooper Wall Investigation

NASHVILLE --- Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott today announced the agency’s Critical Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T.) has completed the investigation into the May crash that killed Trooper Andy Wall. Trooper Wall, a member of the THP Motor Squad, died after a five-vehicle wreck on Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Rutherford County.

 

“We, more than anyone else, wanted answers to what caused Trooper Wall’s untimely death,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “Our CIRT members and Criminal Investigations Division launched a full investigation into the events of that day, including interviews, witness accounts and a thorough reconstruction of the scene. In the end, the investigation determined that no one individual caused this wreck; it was an accident and a terrible tragedy.”   

 

On that Saturday afternoon, three THP motor patrol units – one to lead and two to block the intersections - were scheduled to escort the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilots to the Great Tennessee Airshow at Smyrna Airport. Troopers Buddy Head, 34, and Andy Wall, 36, were the two assigned to stop oncoming traffic at the intersections for the motorcade. All three THP units had blue lights and sirens activated during the escort.

 

At approximately 1:47 p.m., the motorcade departed the Hilton Garden Inn at Highwood Boulevard in Smryna. Just two minutes later, the fatal wreck occurred on Sam Ridley Parkway near Stonecrest Parkway. The motorcade was traveling east on Sam Ridley, when a 2000 Toyota Camry, driven by 66-year old Soutchay Srisourath of Smyrna, stopped in the left hand lane. After the motorcade drove around the vehicle, a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by Larry Scandrett, 43, of Lavergne, pulled over to the right side of the right lane on Sam Ridley. At the same time, a third vehicle, a 2008 Nissan Altima, sat stationary at the exit ramp onto Sam Ridley Parkway from Interstate 24 westbound.

 

Trooper Head observed the bottleneck and began to slow down to maneuver through the two vehicles on Sam Ridley Parkway. Trooper Wall, who was following behind, did not notice the congestion in time and laid his bike down in an attempt to avoid Trooper Head. He then slid into the right rear of Trooper Head’s motorcycle, causing it to lie down and toss Head in front of the unit. Trooper Head’s vehicle went on to sideswipe the Mitsubishi and then strike the Toyota’s right rear.

 

After striking Trooper Head’s vehicle, Trooper Wall’s motorcycle continued to slide and collided into the back of the Mitsubishi. The impact stood the bike upright, throwing Trooper Wall from the vehicle. Trooper Wall’s bike continued to slide into the Altima stopped on the exit ramp.

 

Trooper Wall was then transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he later died of his injuries. Trooper Head was treated for minor injuries at Stonecrest Hospital. No civilians were injured.

 

Investigators indicated all five drivers tested negative for drugs or alcohol, and speed was not a factor

 in the crash. 

 

“Trooper Wall did what he was trained to do in that situation, and we couldn’t ask for any more than that,” said Colonel Trott. “It was an unfortunate accident, and we continue to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.”