One person indicted in connection with wreck which claimed life of two people

By Eddie West Staff Writer

A man faces multiple charges related to a motor vehicle accident which occurred in September of last year.

Two Dickson County residents were killed in the accident.

The county’s grand jury indicted James Paul Hilliard, 34, Garner, North Carolina, on two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of aggravated assault in connection with the accident which occurred on Interstate 40 just west of the Smith County Welcome Center (commonly referred to as the Buffalo Valley Rest Area). 

The accident occurred as west bound traffic had backed up for miles due to the west bound lanes being blocked from an initial fatal accident in which two people were also killed.

The second fatal accident involved three vehicles including a tractor-trailer truck, a car and a van which Hillard was driving, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).

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