Rhea County fatal crash

Rhea County, TN (WDEF) – Tennessee Highway Patrol releases information about a fatal 1 car accident Friday afternoon on State Highway 303 in Rhea County.

17-year-old Emily Cheeks from Dayton passed away.

THP officials say Cheeks went off the roadway and into a ditch.

She then hit a culvert, which caused the car to roll several times.

Cheeks was ejected through the sunroof and died from her injuries.

Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved, but she wasn’t wearing her seatbelt.

THP officials say wearing her seatbelt could have helped.