After the deputy crashes into a citizen’s car, the provincial insurance company refuses to pay damages

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – For Katie Smith, it was a payoff on four wheels after years of working just nine dollars an hour.

“I bought it cash for $7,000,” the MTSU student said, standing next to her 2015 Hyundai Sedan.

Or at least, what’s left of it.

“I can barely turn the steering wheel because the wheel well is damaged,” Smith said, showing the damage to the front of the vehicle, which has now been completely torn open to reveal the internal workings of the headlight.

The cause of the damage: an Oct. 12 accident at the intersection of Franklin Road and Blaze Road in Murfreesboro.

Despite a crash report stating that Rutherford County Deputy Trey Calson improperly changed lanes, the Rutherford County government’s insurance company denies liability and refuses payout.

“The denial letter is so shocking and confusing to me,” Smith said.

According to the crash report examined by a THP trooper, Calson had his emergency lights on and was crossing three lanes of traffic, causing Smith to crash into him.

Smith said she saw the officer’s lights as he sat quietly in the center turn lane before the crash occurred and thought she was doing the right thing by passing alongside him along with other drivers.

Smith’s friend, Mason Nolan, was also in the vehicle and said as they drove along, the deputy failed to turn on his siren and crossed three lanes.

“It happened pretty quickly,” Nolan said. “It wasn’t like, whoa, whoa, whoa. It was like, boom.”

Although she was shaken by the crash, Smith was initially unconcerned, knowing she had not been issued a citation. She then read the THP crash report that Calson improperly changed lanes under the “driver actions” section of the crash report.

But on Oct. 25, Smith received a letter from an adjuster for CCMSI, the Rutherford County government’s insurance company.

The company denied any liability, writing, “Our completed investigation has determined that no negligence has been found on the part of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department.”

The denial letter further claims that in the absence of “any independent witness” or other conclusive evidence, no payout will be made to Smith.

In an additional voicemail left on Smith’s phone, the adjuster cites reviewing dashcam videos with the county’s insurance and risk management department in the decision to deny liability.

“You would think that a government agency would treat people a little better. I just expected more from Rutherford County,” said Jeryla Nolan, Mason’s mother.

With her car no longer drivable, Smith said she can’t afford to buy another car as it took her two years to save enough money to buy her Hyundai.

As of Monday evening, WSMV4 Investigates called and emailed the adjuster, his supervisor, the Rutherford County Attorney, the Rutherford County Insurance and Risk Management Department and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, but no one responded by our deadline.

WSMV4 Investigates spoke with Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr and he said he would see what he could find out and get back to us.

WSMV4 Investigates has now filed an open records request to obtain the dashcam video of the accident, and once we receive it we will begin working on it further.

If you would like to let us know about this story or anything else, please email [email protected].

Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.