In a tragic incident earlier today, emergency services in Decatur responded to a major accident at the Best Western Hotel located on Highway 287 near Thompson Street. The incident unfolded at approximately 10:00am, drawing the immediate attention of the Decatur Fire Department, Wise County EMS, and Decatur Police Department.
According to Decatur PD, the initial investigation suggests that the driver of a pickup truck suffered a medical episode while behind the wheel, leading to a series of unfortunate events. The medical episode caused the pickup truck to veer off the roadway, ultimately colliding with a nearby pole. Subsequently, the vehicle became airborne and crashed into a second pickup truck, which was occupied by a 72-year-old man from Colorado. The elderly man had just checked out of his hotel room moments before the accident occurred.
The force of the collision also led to one of the vehicles striking an awning pillar near the hotel's entrance. The 72-year-old man from Colorado was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver who had the medical emergency while driving was rushed to a local hospital but was also pronounced deceased. Authorities have identified the driver as a 65-year-old man from Chico.
Decatur police are investigating the accident.
