Motor vehicle accident fatality in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
November 18, 2010

At 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17, Rangers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park were notified of a single-vehicle accident along the south-bound Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg Spur (U.S. 441). Rangers arrived to find a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee about 10 feet off the road and resting on its roof. One occupant, Carolyn M. Decker, 50, of Woodstock, GA, was found approximately 40 feet from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

It appeared that the driver had failed to negotiate a right hand curve just south of the Spur/Gumstand Road interchange, and continued off the left shoulder, and down a bank, coming to rest against some trees. Alcohol containers were found in the vehicle. As in all fatal vehicle accidents in the Park, blood was drawn to determine the victim's blood alcohol level, but the results typically take several weeks.

In addition to Rangers, Gatlinburg Police Department, and Gatlinburg EMS and Rescue personnel responded to the wreck.