Washington Co., TN (March 18, 2026) – A head-on crash on Tuesday evening in Washington County left two people injured and resulted in multiple charges for one driver, according to authorities.
Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 5:30 p.m. in the 700 block of South Pickens Bridge Road in Washington County, Tennessee. Investigators reported that a driver, identified as 29-year-old Cody Clark of Piney Flats, Tennessee, was attempting to turn left from Lake Meadow Drive onto South Pickens Bridge Road when his vehicle allegedly crossed the center line and collided head-on with another vehicle.
Witnesses told authorities that Clark failed to stop at a stop sign before making the turn. Emergency responders transported both occupants of the second vehicle from the scene for medical treatment. Officials have not released details regarding the extent of their injuries.
During the investigation, deputies reported locating a loaded handgun in the passenger seat of Clark’s vehicle. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Clark now faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence (second offense), driving left of center, possession of a handgun while under the influence, reckless endangerment, and failure to stop at a stop sign. The crash remains under investigation.
We hope those injured in this incident make a full recovery.
Why Do Head-On Collisions Often Result in Serious Consequences?
Head-on collisions are among the most severe types of crashes because they involve two vehicles traveling in opposite directions.
On roads such as South Pickens Bridge Road in Washington County, Tennessee, crossing the center line, whether due to impairment, distraction, or failure to obey traffic signs, can lead to direct impacts with little time for drivers to react.
Because of the combined force of both vehicles, injuries in head-on crashes are often more serious, making adherence to traffic laws and safe driving practices especially important.
