Benton County, Tenn. – A Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) trooper was seriously injured after being rear-ended while riding his motorcycle on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Highway 641, near Reynoldsburg Road, when Trooper Douglas Williams was struck by another vehicle.
Williams was riding a 2024 Harley-Davidson police motorcycle when the crash occurred. First responders from Benton County Emergency Management Service (EMS) arrived at the scene shortly after the collision and began providing medical assistance. Williams, who sustained serious injuries, was airlifted to Skyline Medical Center for further treatment. Fortunately, his injuries, while severe, were not considered life-threatening.
The driver of the vehicle that rear-ended the trooper was unharmed in the incident. At the time of the crash, traffic was stopped at the Big Sandy River, not far from the accident site. Local authorities confirmed the traffic halt was due to an unrelated situation nearby.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol has since referred the investigation to the Critical Incident Response Team, which is working to determine the cause of the crash. A preliminary report is expected to be released in the coming days.
Commissioner of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Jeff Long, expressed concern for the trooper’s wellbeing, noting the seriousness of the incident. THP officials and the community are closely monitoring the trooper’s recovery.
As of now, no additional information has been provided regarding the condition of the other driver or any further developments in the investigation.
