TENNESSEE DISTRICT JUDGE CHANGING TIRE, HIT AND KILLED BY CAR

Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge O. Duane Slone was killed early Sunday after he was hit by a vehicle in Dandridge, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey.

The judge had a flat tire and was walking along Highway 25/70 between Hammer and Spring Creek Roads when a passing vehicle hit him.

According to a crash report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 2010 Ford Fusion hit and killed Slone while he was walking eastbound on E highway 25/70. According to THP, Slone walked out into the roadway where the Ford hit him.

THP said the crash occurred around 1:24 a.m.

Coffey said Slone’s body was taken to the Regional Forensic Center in Knoxville for an autopsy.

Judge Slone was a circuit judge for Jefferson, Sevier, Cocke and Grainger Counties.