One Dead, Two Injured in I-40 Accident near Baxter

A 22-year-old Monterey man was killed in an accident on I-40 westbound near Baxter Wednesday.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, David Englehardt was traveling with 22-year-old Kirsten McCarty of Baxter and a two-year-old child around 7:40 a.m. McCarty – the driver – attempted to merge into the right lane when she struck the rear of a semi, which had also changed lanes.

Englehardt was pronounced dead at the scene. McCarty was transported to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, while the two-year-old was taken to Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

The driver of the semi -48-year-old Henok Yemane of Las Vegas – was uninjured in the accident. No charges or citations have been filed at this time.

THP officials said the incident likely resulted from both McCarty and Yemane spotting an oncoming ambulance and trying to move out of the way.