Juvenile victim of Blountville crash remains in coma, second victim still hospitalized - Kingsport

Two people are still hospitalized following a Tuesday afternoon head-on collision on 394 in Blountville, with the juvenile driver remaining in a medically induced coma.

On Thursday morning Kenny Moore said his son, Cody Moore, 17, has endured two consecutive days of surgery. He is in critical condition within a trauma unit at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Moore said doctors may soon begin weaning Cody of some medication, attempting to have him breathe with no assistance from a ventilator. The most serious injury Cody suffered was a laceration to his aorta, according to Moore. Surgeons have also placed a stint in his heart and plates in his leg and chest."They said his age and the shape he was in, that helped a lot," Moore said of Cody, a student at Sullivan Central High School.
"Our thanks go out to all the EMS and Holston Valley trauma and UT trauma. It's amazing what they did (to keep Cody alive)."
Moore also expressed thought of prayers to the driver of the other vehicle, Ellis E. Hicks, 62, of Kingsport.

When reached at Bristol Regional Medical Center by telephone, his wife, Dinah Hicks, said Ellis will remain hospitalized for approximately five more days. She said he suffered a broken bone above his ankle, with the bone then breaking through his skin. He also has five broken ribs.
The crash occurred at 2:34 Tuesday afternoon on State Route 394. A spokesperson with the Tennessee Department of Safety reported that, according to witness statements, two juveniles in separate vehicles were street racing.