Father plans to sue after son’s deadly Rod Run scooter crash in Pigeon Forge
Jeremy Hanes Jr., who went by Kyle, died after he was hit by a truck door while riding his scooter along the parkway in Pigeon Forge during Rod Run.
Author: Brittany Bailey
Published: 9:18 PM EDT July 29, 2024
Updated: 9:18 PM EDT July 29, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A grieving father said he is planning to sue after his son was killed during this year’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.
Jeremy Hanes Jr., who went by Kyle, died after a scooter crash on April 18. He was riding along the parkway when he got close to an intersection with stopped traffic. That’s when a passenger in a pickup truck opened his door and Hanes slammed into it.
It just looked bad,” said Kyle’s dad, Jeremy Hanes. “He was laying there, completely unresponsive, eyes closed. It was bad.”
Kyle made it to the hospital but never woke up again. He died the next day.
“At the end of the day, my son did not come home,” Jeremy said. “When my son came home, he came home in a coroner’s van.”
10News obtained the investigative file in this case from the Pigeon Forge Police Department. It contains photos, videos, witness interviews and reports.
Police talked to, or got statements from, the truck’s teenage driver and teenage passenger, plus around a dozen other witnesses to the crash.
Their stories were nearly all the same — that the truck’s driver and passenger had planned to switch seats at the light, and that’s why the teen opened his door. Jeremy said he was not convinced it was an accident. He said he watched the traffic camera video and never saw the driver’s door open, never saw a dome light illuminate.
“I honestly feel that they thought it was gonna be a funny moment to door-check somebody, and it just happened to be my son that got door-checked,” he said. “And that funny joke turned into a tragic accident.”
The Pigeon Forge Police Department left the question of whether it was an accident up to the district attorney general’s office. In a letter to police, the deputy district attorney general wrote that there was “insufficient evidence” to bring criminal charges. He then told police they could close the investigatory file.
“If justice would have been served for my son, there would have been charges put on this kid, if not all the kids in the vehicle,” Jeremy said.
A memorial now sits near the spot where Kyle suffered that fatal blow from the truck door. But his father has never seen it in person. Jeremy said he doesn’t plan to ever return to Pigeon Forge. But he also doesn’t plan to ever give up his fight for justice.
I’m not stopping,” he said. “I lost my son, and if the table was turned, and if I was the one that was gone, my son wouldn’t stop for me.”
Jeremy hired attorney Richard Talley to help him with this case. Talley said the plan is to sue the truck’s owner.
Hanes said his goal is to make sure his son’s three children are taken care of now that their father is gone.
Father Joseph Reed was placed on administrative leave “effective immediately” per the Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment Policy.
Author: WBIR Staff
Published: 4:40 PM EST December 14, 2024
Updated: 9:01 AM EST December 16, 2024
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — According to the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Communications, a priest at St. John Neumann Catholic Church and School has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.
A letter to Parish members said Joseph Reed was placed on leave after a complaint of “boundary violations” was brought to the Diocese’s attention. The Diocese said the complaint has been reported to state authorities, and the Diocese informed Reed of it. The Diocese said it will wait for the completion of the civil authorities’ investigation before conducting an independent review.
With an abundance of caution, Fr. Reed has been removed from his pastoral responsibilities during the time of the investigation, as our primary concern is the protection of those in our care and ensuring a fair, comprehensive review of the allegations,” the Diocese said in the letter.
According to the letter, the Diocese will uphold the presumption of innocence and take appropriate measures to protect the individual’s dignity and reputation until facts are “fully established.” The Diocese also asked for prayers, compassion and respect for all individuals involved, saying they remain steadfast in their commitment to maintaining the spiritual care of their people.
According to Saint John Neumann Catholic School’s website, Father Joseph Reed was born and raised in Knoxville. He went to Sacred Heart School and then Farragut Middle and High Schools.
“He was a seminarian for the Diocese before joining Conception Abbey as a monk for almost twenty years,” his bio said. “Fr. Joe earned additional degrees in theology from St. John’s Seminary [Minnesota] and St. Vincent Seminary [Pennsylvania].”
His bio also said he taught and served as an academic advisor, spiritual director and liturgy at Conception Seminary College. He worked in the business and vocation offices at Conception Abbey and was a master of ceremonies while living and studying in Rome.
“Since his return to Knoxville, Fr. Joe has served as parochial vicar and school chaplain at Sacred Heart Cathedral,” the website said.
According to the letter, Fr. Michael Maples will assume the pastoral needs of St. John Neumann Parish, and all regular parish activities are planned to continue as normal.
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