From WRIL - The Big One
On Saturday afternoon June 24, 2023, there was a multi-vehicle accident on Highway 33 South near Sunrise Church. The Tennessee Highway Patrol preliminary report determined that a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 24-year-old Brett Cook of Tennessee was traveling on Highway 33 when he crossed the center line passing in a no-passing zone.
Cook then collided head-on with a 1995 Ford F-150 driven by 51-year-old Toby S. Walker. The force of the impact spun Cook’s Jeep and it collided with a third vehicle, a 2018 Mercedes G25 driven by 46-year-old Christy Chapell, also of Tennessee. Chapell was traveling with her two minor children.
Injured in the incident was driver Brett Cook, his passengers 24-year-old Baili Baltrip and 29-year-old Haley Gent along with Christy Chapell and her children. Tragically Toby S. Walker was killed upon impact in the collision.
Other than cook, all occupants were wearing seatbelts.
Charges against Brett Cook are pending.
Tennessee Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation with assistance from the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department.
Multiple first responders responded to the scene which closed Highway 33 for several hours. Some injured were flown from the area to UT Hospital.