ALCOA, Tenn. — Authorities are investigating a deadly road rage crash on Alcoa Highway near Hunt Road. According to AAA spokesperson Megan Cooper, the incident in Alcoa is nothing new.
"In general, road rage is becoming a little bit more common on our roadways, unfortunately," said Cooper.
Cooper shared some advice on how to avoid road rage, especially a deadly one.
"What we want to avoid is, you know, reacting to a situation because we never know what someone is going to do," said Cooper.
Alcoa Police said 58-year-old Derek Geary of Maryville drove north with three kids ages 8 to 13 in the back around 9:15 a.m. on Saturday. They said he crossed two lanes of traffic and struck a car driven by 34-year-old William Carroll of Maryville in a "road rage incident."
APD said that caused both vehicles to strike a guardrail barrier. Geary's car flipped upside down with the children inside before coming to rest on the guardrail.
Authorities said Carroll was pronounced dead at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
The three children in Geary's car were also treated for their injuries, according to APD.
Geary was arrested and charged with one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of felony reckless endangerment. His combined bail was set at $775,000.
He was scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Geary's next court date is September 26.
APD said it is actively investigating the crash.