A local man was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center on Monday after leaving the road and striking a utility pole. 

McMinnville resident Brooks L. Majors, 32, was traveling outbound on Nashville Highway at approximately 8 a.m. when he veered left in the area of Bridge Builders Road, leaving the highway. The vehicle, a 1998 Chevy Lumina, jumped the sidewalk, hit a ditch and struck a utility pole on its passenger side.  

Responding to the scene was McMinnville patrol officer Andy Aguilar. Assisting was Lt. Mark Mara, who leads the department’s crash team to reconstruct motor vehicle accidents. 

Mara says Majors was successful in an attempt to avoid colliding with another vehicle.

“A vehicle pulled from the parking lot of Dollar General and into his path,” said Mara. “Mr. Majors veered left to avoid that collision and left the roadway. It was a wreck involving two vehicles, but there was no contact between the two vehicles.”

McMinnville resident Carrie Gunter, 89, reported that she was attempting a left turn.

“She came to the stop sign and when she started to pull out, she noticed that a vehicle was coming,” said Mara. “She stopped when she noticed him coming, but it was probably too late. He swerved to avoid her.” 

Gunter was driving a 2006 Chevy Cobalt.

Mara says Majors was not wearing a seatbelt and he would like to remind drivers that state law requires their use and exactly why that is.

“Seatbelts and airbags work together. The seatbelt provides body support and keeps you from moving around in the vehicle or being ejected, while the airbag creates a cushion between the occupant and the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield or other surfaces. They work best together.”

Majors was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center with unknown injuries. He was described as “responsive” at the scene.