Potential Disaster Averted In Cocke County

Residents along a stretch of State Route 340 are breathing a sigh of relief this morning after a touchy situation Thursday afternoon. A propane truck over turned at state route 340 and Allen Chapel Road just south of Parrottsville. The propane tank on the truck then began to leak. Cocke County Emergency Management ordered a mandatory evancuation of homes within a one mile radius of the leaking propane tank. The Parrottsville Elementary school gym was set up as an evacuation site for those who did not have anywhere to go. State Route 340 was closed from Parrottsville to Del Rio.

The driver of the propane was transported to the Parrottsville School where he was then airlifted to the Johnson City Medical Center. Two deputies were injured as they were rendering aid to the driver as they inhaled propane fumes. Both were transported to the Newport Medical Center and were treated and later released. Crews then began transferring the propane from the damaged tank to another truck. The leaked propane was burned off.

The evacuation notice was lifted for most in the one mile radius by around 5pm. The evacuation notice was lifted for the remaining homes around 7pm last night as crews were able to get the damaged propane tank moved out of the area. Route 340 was then reopened at that time. It was a great job by all of the emergency responders involved and the Jefferson Cocke County Utility District of keeping this from being a major disaster.