May 3, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Another fatal crash
19 year old Savannah Buckley of Cookeville lost her life in a fiery wreck this morning (Monday) on Highway 70 at Liberty.
Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Buckley was traveling east in a 2000 Ford Ranger when she lost control in a curve and crossed into the path of a westbound 2005 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 31 year old Ryan Robinson of Sparta. Buckley’s truck caught fire after impact. She died at the scene.
Robinson suffered minor injuries and was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where he was treated and released.
Trooper Delong said the highway was wet from the rain and may have contributed to the crash. He was assisted at the scene by THP Captain Wesley Stafford, Lieutenant Dewaine Jennings, and Trooper Brent Collier.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department rendered assistance and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and TDOT employees helped with traffic control. The Liberty station extinguished the fire and the Main Station performed extrication on Buckley’s truck in order for her body to be removed
Buckley’s death marks the third traffic fatality within the last month in DeKalb County. 18 year old Cassie Maxwell of Alexandria was killed in a crash Monday, April 5 on Highway 70 between Dowelltown and Liberty and a week later on April 12, 42 year old Thomas Higginbotham of Silver Point died in a wreck on Highway 56.