From NewsChannel 9: A late night arrest turned into tragedy after a Meigs County deputy inadvertently drove off of a boat ramp and into the Tennes
From NewsChannel 9: A late night arrest turned into tragedy after a Meigs County deputy inadvertently drove off of a boat ramp and into the Tennessee river.
In the wake of this crash, officials have been asked about the safety of Blythe Ferry where the boat ramp is located.
The chief deputy for Meigs County says Deputy RJ Leonard had only been with the sheriff’s office for a few months.
He says roads like Blythe Ferry Lane could be treacherous for drivers who are unfamiliar with the area.
You can see on this map that there are two boat ramps, one in Meigs County on Blythe Ferry Lane and the other in Rhea County on Blythe Ferry Road.
One is in Rhea County, and the other is in Meigs County where the crash took place.
Both sides turn from road to river very quickly, and feature relatively few safety measures.
Monday visited both sides of the river to see just how dangerous these boat ramps may be.
3 rumble strips on Blythe Ferry Lane lead to the water in Meigs County.
That’s compared to just one strip on the Rhea County side.
This is what the driver’s view looks like from the roads on both sides of the river:
On the left, Meigs County where the DA says Deputy RJ Leanord drove into the water Wednesday night. On the right, Rhea County.
As far as signs go, the Meigs County side has 2 and Rhea County has 3.
“There needs to be some safety in that areas for signs,” Sherrie Waters says.
Meigs County residents like Sherrie Waters say these roads that both lead into water are dangerous with not enough lighting, or warning signs in the area.
“It’s not a road I’d want to go down in the evening time or night time,” Waters says.
The Rhea County side has one light post with a broken bulb.
And on the Meigs County side? A pole with no light at all.
Waters is wondering what could change to make this area safer after her friend Tabitha Smith died in the back of Deputy Leonard’s patrol car.
“We were really good friends. She’s one of those free birds that you meet, like, once in a lifetime,” Sherri says.
Meigs County Mayor Eddie Jewell says there have been no conversations with anyone about any improvements for the area.
He says fixing the light would be the responsibility of the road superintendent, who was out when we called because of the holiday.
“It’s truly dark down there. It’s pitch black down there,” Water says.
