MEIGS COUNTY, Tenn. — Some safety measures have been added to the site of the fatal February crash that killed Meigs County resident Tabitha Smith and Deputy Robert RJ Leonard.
Leonard was attempting to arrest Smith. The Meigs County Sheriff's Office says Leonard's patrol car veered off into the Tennessee River on the way to the jail.
Hours after the incident, the sheriff's office said there were no plans to improve the safety of Blythe Ferry Lane.
"If you're not familiar with the area, there is a lot more that could be done to make sure that people who are unfamiliar with the area become aware," said local fisher Chuck Spires.
Now efforts can be seen. Temporary signage has been added with blinking lights to the dark country road ending with a ramp to the Tennessee River.
Spires tells Local 3 News he has fished at this spot for years, although this was the first time he has driven the route before sunrise since the accident.
"I noticed the reflections on the road where it tells you where it's ending. I couldn't even really see them, and I looked. So, I was looking for them. And the flashing lights on the side of the road weren't working. One of them was barely noticeable. Two of them, I had passed them before I ever saw them," said Spires.
Memorials for both Smith and Leonard still stand at the site.
"It will hopefully prevent anything happening in the future because to lose a couple of people like this is just senseless," said Spires.
Local 3 News is waiting to hear more from the sheriff's office and the Department of Safety.
This story was originally reported by Local 3 News.