A near head-on collision involving two vehicles on a side road in the Viola area seriously injured one driver.

The vehicles collided on Cecil Laxson Road, which connects King Road and Fred Hoover Road, at approximately 7 a.m. Friday morning. According to Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper Wade Myers, the two topped a hill and both were believed to be slightly over the center of the roadway.

“They topped the hillcrest at the same time,” said Myers. “It looked like both were hogging the road a little bit. It was somewhat a head-on collision, but a sideswipe type deal.”

The front driver’s sides of the vehicles collided. 

Involved in the wreck were Warren County resident Maria Perez, 46, and Tullahoma resident Tracie Nutt, 47.

Sustaining serious injury was Perez, who became trapped in the wreckage of her 2014 Nissan Altima. 

“She had to be extricated,” said Myers. “They had to remove the top of the vehicle to get her out. She had significant head trauma. Life Flight would not respond due to the weather. She was transported by ground to Manchester’s hospital. I believe she was taken from there to Erlanger.”

Myers spoke with a family member later that morning and was told Mrs. Perez’s was in stable condition.  

Mrs. Nutt, who as driving a 2006 Ford F150, was uninjured.

One citation was written. Mrs. Perez was cited for driving without a license.