One Tellico Plains resident kill

A Saturday afternoon wreck claimed the life of one Tellico Plains resident and injured another.

Near the Lenoir City exit on Interstate 75 at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, a 2006 Honda Accord and a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan were traveling northbound on I-75 when, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tiguan hit the rear end of the Accord.

The Accord then veered over the median into the southbound lane, where it hit a third vehicle and then traveled off the roadway and down a dirt embankment.

According to THP, the passenger in the Accord died as a result of the wreck, while the driver was injured. The driver of the third vehicle was reportedly also injured. Everyone involved was reported as wearing their seat belt.

Charges are listed as pending against the driver of the Volkswagen.

According to reports, the passenger who passed away as a result of the wreck was Tellico Plains High School student Darrah Wiseman.

Wiseman was a six-time state champion in track and field, winning two gold medals as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Wiseman won the 2024 800M and 1600M, the 2023 800M and 1600M and the 2022 800M and 3200M.

She won gold in all state track events she competed in.

Per the TSSAA website, she is the only individual girls’ champion from Tellico Plains.

Wiseman had also represented Tellico Plains at the Class A-AA Cross Country State Championship on three occasions.

As a sophomore, Wiseman placed 19th overall with a 20:53 time. Running with the Tellico team, she placed 66th as a freshman and 42nd as a junior.

On Oct. 30, Wiseman qualified for her fourth cross country state championship.

Earlier in October, the senior committed to run at Tennessee Tech.

Reactions have come in from people across the county, including Monroe County Mayor Mitch Ingram on his Facebook page. Ingram noted that Wiseman "made the entire county proud."

"Our hearts are broken and words seem inadequate in the face of such profound sorrow," Ingram wrote. "As we mourn together, let us come together in prayer for her family, friends, classmates and everyone whose lives have been forever touched by Darrah. May God grant her family peace, strength and comfort in these difficult days."

According to the Tellico Plains High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Facebook page, the high school was open on Sunday for anyone who wanted to come by and remember Wiseman.