Two Injured When SUV Crashes Into Local Bank

Oneida, TN (2011-04-01) Two persons were injured late Friday morning in Oneida when a SUV plowed into the teller window of a local bank.

An employee of First Trust and Savings Bank of Oneida was injured late Friday morning, when a vehicle crashed into the drive-thru teller window at the bank’s main offices on Municipal Drive.

According to Chief Darryl Laxton of the Oneida Police Department, a white Ford Explorer smashed into the main teller window at First Trust and Savings Bank in Oneida around 11:15 a.m. Friday morning. A bank employee, identified as Sandy Wright, 62, of Oneida was struck by the debris from the window resulting in injuries to her lower extremities. The driver of the SUV, identified as Babe Ball, 76, of Oneida, reportedly blacked out at the wheel of his vehicle while negotiating the entrance to the drive-thru lane. Ball reportedly told authorities he passed out and didn’t remember the accident.

Wright was transported from the scene to the helipad at St. Mary’s Medical Center of Scott County. She was immediately airlifted by LifeStar Air Ambulance to U.T. Medical Center in Knoxville. She reportedly suffered non-life threatening injuries to her pelvic region and legs.

Ball was transported to the local hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries.

“Our prayers go out to not only to our employees that were involved, but the driver of the vehicle,” commented a concerned Jim Johnson, President of First Trust and Savings Bank. “It was an unfortunate event, and at this point we don’t know the extent of the injuries that our employees have suffered,” he added.

Two other bank employees, who were working close to Wright reportedly escaped without any immediate injury.

Due to damage to the structure, the bank was forced to close Friday afternoon—one of its busiest days of the month. “We had to close our main office lobby and drive-thru following the accident,” commented Johnson. Although the main office was closed, the bank quickly directed its customers to its other local branches. “We diverted our customers to our Wal-Mart and Huntsville branch offices,” Johnson said. “We apologize for any inconvenience and certainly hope they received the same quality service at our branch offices that they were accustomed to getting at our Municipal Drive location,” he concluded.

The main office is expected to be open for normal operation on Monday.

Adam Douglas with the Oneida Police Department is in charge of the investigation. Douglas was assisted on scene by fellow officers Shonda Duncan and Gerry “Greasey” Garrett. Multiple units from the Scott County Ambulance Service and the Oneida Fire Department likewise responded to the scene.