Sparta teen killed in Crossville crash

 A White County teen returning home with a church group from a day at Dollywood died in a two-vehicle crash, on Aug. 18, 2024, in Crossville, according to a crash report released by Crossville Police Department.

The victim was identified as Aiden James Linville, 13, of White County. He was a student at White County Middle School. He died from his injuries at The University of Tennessee Medical Center, in Knoxville.

The report indicates two people were injured in the crash.

The wreck occurred shortly before 1 a.m., at the intersection of Highway 70 North and Northside Drive, according to the report filed by CPD’s Mptl. Ethan Cunningham.

A 2019 Honda Odyssey van occupied by members of the Sparta area church group and driven by Kaleb Tyler Mills, 32, of Sparta, was traveling west, on Northside Drive, approached the Highway 70 North intersection where flashing red lights were activated for Northside Drive traffic.

“… Mills stated he did not see anyone coming so he didn’t stop for the flashing red light,” Cunningham wrote in his report.

As Mills proceeded into the intersection, the van was struck by a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Andrew Paul Pendergrass, 44, of Eureka Drive. The impact caused both vehicles to travel off the roadway.

Pendergrass and his two passengers did not report any injuries.

There were five people traveling in the van.

The fatally injured teen was taken to Cumberland Medical Center and later transferred to UT Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries later on Aug. 18.

The report indicates the crash remains under investigation by Crossville Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol.