Fatal crash on Easter Sunday

The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to a deadly crash involving three vehicles on Highway 25 at Carey Road in Trousdale County.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:29 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

According to the THP report, Wade Hellemn, 42, of Hartsville hit a 2020 Ford Explorer belonging to the Trousdale County Sheriff’s Department, with his 2015 Harley Davidson FLT motorcycle.

The SUV was driven by Trousdale County Sheriff’s Deputy David Harris, 33.

Both Harris and Hellemn were heading westbound on Highway 25, when Harris stopped to make a left-hand turn onto Carey Road, according to the report. As Harris was waiting for an opportunity to make the turn, Hellemn struck his SUV from behind with his motorcycle.

Upon impact, both Hellemn and his wife, Brandy, 42, who was a passenger on back of the motorcycle, were thrown off the bike, which came to rest in the eastbound lane of Highway 25. Hellemn’s bike was then hit by Joseph Hammer, 59, who was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle, but was traveling eastbound.

After the impact with Hellemn’s bike, Hammer’s motorcycle continued moving in an eastbound direction until coming to rest on the right side of the road in a ditch.

Hammer was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

According to Trousdale County Sheriff Ray Russell, the accident occurred as Harris was responding to a call.

“The deputy was going to a call,” said Russell. “He was on his way to work traffic for that call and was taking a left onto Carey Road. He was sitting still, and the motorcycle ran into the backend of him. He was sitting there waiting for the traffic to clear to make the turn.”

Hellemn died from injuries sustained in the collision, and his wife was injured and rushed by ambulance to Sumner Regional Hospital in Gallatin.

Hammer and Harris were not injured.

“The officer is fine,” said Russell. “He’s just shaken up from what happened, but he didn’t have any injuries.”

No charges have been filed in relation to the accident.