By Tim Gardner
An early morning crash on Tuesday, August 10th in the Limestone Cove community of Unicoi County, TN claimed the life of an Avery County resident.
15-year-old Haley Calhoun of the Pyatte Community died in a single car accident that happened around 5:08 a.m. on Highway 107 near the Limestone Cove Recreation Area.
Calhoun was a student at Avery County High School.
According to a preliminary Tennessee Highway Patrol report, a 2004 Pontiac Grand AM was traveling east on State Highway 107 when it failed to negotiate a left-hand turn and left the right side of the roadway. The Grand AM struck a tree head on, the driver having not applied the brakes.
Calhoun was listed as the passenger in the Grand AM, which was driven by 18-year-old Damian Fuller of the Jonas Ridge Community, which has sections in Avery and Burke counties. Fuller was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for injuries. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that Calhoun was wearing her seatbelt, but Fuller was not wearing a seatbelt.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s investigation about the accident is on-going.