A multi-vehicle collision on US Highway 127 in Fentress County resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries after a northbound truck drifted into oncoming traffic and struck a group of southbound motorcycles.

According to a preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the crash occurred on August 29, 2026. A 2000 Chevrolet S-14, driven by 56-year-old Shawn Banzhoff of Tennessee, was traveling northbound near Old Martha Washington Road when it failed to maintain its lane and collided with a group of four southbound motorcycles.

• Fatal Casualty: Bethany Valentine, driving a 2015 Kawasaki (Vehicle 3), suffered fatal injuries in the collision.

• Injured Motorcyclists: Tara Stopinski (57, TN) driving a 2023 Harley Davidson, Kelley Lewelling driving a 2025 Harley Davidson, and Dawn Jones driving a 2008 Harley Davidson sustained injuries. Stopinski was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

• Truck Driver: Banzhoff was wearing a seatbelt and reported no injuries.

Charges against Banzhoff remain pending as the THP investigation continues.