(Note: This article was updated on Monday, Sept. 18 at 9:12am with new information regarding the deceased from the National Park Service.)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers temporarily closed park roads for two serious motorcycle accidents on Sunday evening, Sept. 17.
At approximately 6:20pm, a single motorcycle accident was reported along the Foothills Parkway West between mile marker 7 and 8. An adult male rider was transported by Lifestar to the University of Tennessee Medical Center at approximately 7:28pm. Park Rangers, Rural Metro, and Blount County Sheriff, Fire, and EMS responded to the accident. The roadway was reopened.
At approximately 8:38pm, a single motorcycle accident was reported just north of the tunnel on the Spur between Gatlinburg, Tenn. and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Gatlinburg Police Department, Gatlinburg Fire Department, and Park Rangers responded to the accident. Lawrence Overby Tuck IV, 24, of Knoxville, Tenn., slid into a guardrail just past Huskey Grove Road north of the tunnel along the Spur between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Overby was declared deceased at the scene of the accident by Gatlinburg EMS who later transported him to LeConte Medical Center where time of death was pronounced at 8:53pm.
No additional details are available at this time.
– NPS
