GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Passenger Killed When Trees Fall On Car
Tonya Eichler, 39, of Sevierville, Tennessee, was killed on Sunday night by falling trees that hit the Nissan Altima she was riding in on Newfound Gap Road. Several large trees fell from the west side of the road directly onto the front passenger side of the vehicle just after the car had passed the Chimney Tops picnic area. The Nissan was driven by Jody Simonds, also of Sevierville. A third occupant, Simonds’ juvenile daughter, was sitting in the back seat of the car. The incident was reported by a park employee just after 8 p.m. The Nissan was severely damaged by the fallen trees, which caused the roof to collapse on the passenger side. Both Simonds and his daughter were able to climb out of a window. Before rescue personnel arrived on scene, a motorist with a chainsaw stopped to assist and began cutting the trees in an attempt to free Eichler. Gatlinburg paramedics assisted rangers in employing the jaws-of-life to extricate her from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Simonds’ were transported by Gatlinburg ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where they were treated and released. Eichler was transported by a second Gatlinburg ambulance to Ft. Sanders Sevier Medical Center. Although high winds with gusts up to 70 mph had blown earlier in the day, they’d diminished significantly by the time of the accident. Soils, though, were highly saturated due to rainfall and snow melt.
Contact Information
Name: Nancy Gray, Public Affairs Officer
