Josh Mefford, 41, of La Follette was fatally injured in Saturday night’s mishap

TOP PHOTO: A National Guard Black-hawk helicopter airlifted an injured passenger

Rick Violes, 27, Oneida and 41-year old Josh Mefford, La Follette in UTV accident; Mefford died

CARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- Matthew Cameron with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency explains to WLAF that yesterday, November 9, 2024, at around 8:30 p.m., two men left from work at a truck stop in LaFollette and rode a side by side off highway vehicle onto the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area from Highway 63.

At some point during the night, they drove off a 200 foot rock high wall in an area known as the sand mines. The operator, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and killed.

The passenger was wearing a seat belt, was knocked unconscious and seriously injured. It’s unclear what time the incident occurred, but the passenger regained consciousness around 3:30 AM and called 911. Rescue squads arrived at the accident site and stabilized the passenger but were unable to transport him due to the remoteness of the incident site.

Around 9 a.m., a National Guard Black-hawk helicopter airlifted the injured passenger to UT Medical Center at Knoxville. The operator’s body was recovered by around 11:30 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the TWRA, and the TWRA will release the identities of the victims on Monday. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/10/2024-4PM-PHOTOS SUBMITTED)

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