County insurance refuses to pay compensation after deputy crashes civilian's car

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – For Katie Smith, it was a four-wheeler of income after years of working for just nine dollars an hour.

“I bought this for $7,000 in cash,” said the MTSU student, standing next to his 2015 Hyundai Sedan.

Or at least what’s left.

Katie Smith said her vehicle could no longer be driven given the damage to the wheel well.(WSMV)

“I can barely turn the wheel because the wheel well is damaged,” Smith said, pointing to the damage to the front of the vehicle, which has now been completely ripped off to reveal the inner workings of the headlight.

Cause of damage: Crash at the intersection of Franklin Road and Blaze Road in Murfreesboro on October 12.

Despite the crash report stating that Rutherford County deputy Trey Calson improperly changed lanes, the Rutherford County government’s insurance company denies liability and refuses to pay.

“The rejection letter is very shocking and confusing to me,” Smith said.

According to the crash report investigated by a THP trooper, Calson’s emergency lights were on and he crossed three lanes of traffic, causing Smith to strike him.

Smith said he saw the lights of a sheriff’s deputy sitting idle in the center turn lane before the crash occurred and thought he did the right thing by passing him along with other drivers.

Smith’s boyfriend, Mason Nolan, was also in the vehicle and said the sheriff’s deputy did not turn on his siren and crossed three lanes of traffic as he drove forward.

“It happened pretty quickly,” Nolan said. “It wasn’t like wow, wow, wow, it was like boom.”

Shaken by the accident, Smith wasn’t worried at first, knowing he wasn’t issued a citation. He then read the THP crash report, which stated in the “driver actions” section of the crash report that Calson improperly changed lanes.

Within the scope of driver conditions and actions, the THP accident report includes the assistant's previous actions... — Within the scope of driver conditions and actions, the THP crash report includes the deputy’s actions before striking the MTSU student on October 12, 2024(THP)

But on October 25, Smith received a letter from the claims adjuster for CCMSI, the Rutherford County government’s insurance company.

The company denied any liability, writing: “Our completed investigation has determined that there was no negligence on the part of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s department.”

The rejection letter claims that in the absence of “any independent witnesses” or other conclusive evidence, no payment will be made to Smith.

In the denial statement, the Rutherford County insurance company states that there was no negligence... — In its denial statement, the Rutherford County insurance company states that it found no negligence on the part of the sheriff’s department.(WSMV)

In an additional voicemail left on Smith’s phone, the adjuster states that they reviewed the dashcam video with the county’s insurance and risk management department in their decision to deny liability.

“You would think a government agency would treat people a little better. “I expected more from Rutherford County,” Mason’s mother, Jeryla Nolan, said.

With his vehicle no longer drivable, Smith said he could not afford to buy another car, considering it took him two years to save enough money to buy the Hyundai.

Beginning Monday night, WSMV4 Investigations called and emailed the claims adjuster, his supervisor, the Rutherford County attorney, the Rutherford County insurance and risk management department, and the Rutherford County sheriff’s department, but none responded by our deadline.

WSMV4 Investigations spoke with Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr, and he said he’ll look into what he can find out and get back to us.

WSMV4 Investigates has filed an open records request to obtain dashcam video of the crash and we will follow up as soon as we receive it.

If there’s anything you’d like us to know about this story or anything else, email [email protected].

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