Guardrail questions after fatal crash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Questions are being raised about the safety of some road guardrails in our area.

These questions have come up from guardrail safety advocates such as Steve Eimers, a Tennessee father who lost his daughter in a crash involving a guardrail in 2016.

A fatal wreck that occurred early Sunday morning near the Bachman Tunnel that claimed the life of 18-year-old Karen Ortiz.

Chattanooga Police say the car Ortiz was in plunged off an embankment off of U.S. 41 after a juvenile driver approached the roundabout they were unfamiliar with.

Google Maps Street View shows guardrails in the area showed visible damage from images taken in May and June of this year.

Those guardrails were still visibly damaged Tuesday morning near the roundabout.

The guardrail at the end of the Bachman Tunnel roundabout showing damage in a May 2023 photo. (Courtesy: Google Maps)

Eimers said, “We have to know that the products we are paying for with our taxpayer dollars are being installed properly, but we also need to make sure we are maintaining those products in a crash worthy manner.”

News 12 has reached out to TDOT and CDOT about the damaged guardrails.

CDOT says the guardrails belong to TDOT.

TDOT says they are looking into matter but have not provided further details.

A GoFundMe has been launched for Karen Ortiz.

A family friend says the family is looking to send her body back to her native Guatemala.

The family says she loved playing soccer, going to school, and hanging out with her friends.