Early Morning Claiborne Collision Results in the Death of a Kentucky Man

From The Big One WRIL -

Sunday morning September 28, 2025, there was a fatal accident on US 25E south of Tom Ball Road a short time before 6:45am.

Among the first responders on scene was the Tennesse Highway Patrol. Their preliminary report determined that a 2002 Ford E55 box truck driven by 38-year-old Santana R. Onofre of Mexico was traveling northbound on US 25E on a downhill grade.

A second vehicle, a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by 75-year-old Merle T. Chamberlain of Kentucky, was traveling southbound on US 25E on an uphill grade. Both vehicles were in a straightaway.

Onofre failed to maintain his lane of travel and went into the southbound lane colliding with Chamberlain's vehicle causing a head-on crash. Both vehicles came to an uncontrolled stop.

While both drivers were wearing their seatbelts, the impact of the collision injured Santana Onofre and killed Merle Chamberlain.

THP states that charges against Santana R. Onofre are pending the outcome of investigation.

Also on scene was the Claiborne County EMS, Claiborne County Sheriff's Department, Quality Towing, and Springdale Fire Department.