Local News

A man is dead following a two-vehicle collision on EB Interstate 40 in Cheatham County early Sunday morning. A 2023 Kia SPT was reported traveling east on I-40 at a high rate of speed and swerved to avoid a collision. However, the vehicle struck the left side of a 2022 Ford F250. The Kia then reportedly overcorrected, ran off the right side of the road, and hit a rock wall. The driver of the Kia — identified as 27-year-old Joshua Townsend — died in the crash. Meanwhile, officials said the Ford’s driver — identified as a 32-year-old man from Tennessee — was not injured. Both drivers were reportedly wearing their seatbelts. Meanwhile, a Cheatham County deputy’s patrol vehicle was hit early Sunday morning while investigating that crash. when the patrol vehicle was sideswiped, Sheriff Binkley said the deputy was not injured, but the vehicle “will be totaled.”

A Florida teen who had already run 1,500 miles on behalf of first responders ran a mile yesterday in honor of Sumner County Sheriff Roy “Sonny” Weatherford. Sheriff Weatherford dedicated more than four decades to his community and died suddenly at the age of 65 on Friday, Aug. 2. Thousands gathered in Hendersonville at Long Hollow Church on Friday, Aug. 9, to honor the sheriff’s life. Now, Zechariah Cartledge has honored Weatherford with his Running 4 Heroes Inc. organization.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) urges drivers to slow down and drive cautiously. The agency says their trucks and equipment have been hit 73 times so far in 2024. TDOT is asking drivers to please slow down and pay attention on the road. They are advising people to stop texting and talking on the phone while driving to help save lives. Additionally, the agency urges people to pay attention to a vehicle on the side of the road and move over.

State Rep. Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar, R-Springfield, announced TennCare families are now able to receive up to 100 free diapers per month. In 2023, the General Assembly approved the TennCare Diaper Benefit as part of Gov. Bill Lee’s Strong Family Initiative. The approval allowed more families and caregivers to qualify for assistance and established the diaper benefit program. Parents or caregivers can get diapers from select pharmacies, similar to how they would pick up a prescription. They must show the pharmacist their child’s OptumRx pharmacy card to receive the diapers. For infants who do not have their card yet, their parent’s OptumRx card or social security number will be accepted.