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Three survive devastating head-on with log truck, including baby

Sept. 7– Although injured, three Counce residents in a small SUV survived a head-on collision with a loaded log truck Friday, including a 1-year-old boy in the back in a child safety seat, the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported this afternoon.

The impact crushed the 1998 Chevy Blazer driven west on Tenn. 57 by Rhonda Taylor, 28, at the intersection of Tenn. 142 in the vicinity of the Southside community.

According to Trooper Gerald Hardin, a 1995 Freightliner operated by Roy Gordon, 64, of Pontotoc, Miss., was eastbound on Tenn. 57.

A third vehicle, which was not struck in the 12:40 p.m. crash, was stopped in the east lane of Tenn. 57, waiting to turn left onto Tenn. 142.

Gordon, in an attempt to keep from rear-ending the stopped vehicle swerved into the west lane of Tenn. 57, colliding head-on with Taylor.

Taylor sustained incapacitating injuries, as did her passenger Christopher Butlar, 31, of Counce. Rhett Taylor, 1, was less seriously injured.

Neither Gordon, or Debora A. Franklin, 44, also of Pontotoc, who was riding in the log truck, were reported injured.

Gordon was cited on charges of improper passing, following too close, no medical card and no Department of Transportation number.