Knoxville, Tennessee – Juan Carlos Herrera Gomez, 45, of Knoxville, tragically lost his life while trying to assist at the scene of a fatal car crash on Interstate 40. The incident occurred on the morning of August 17, 2024, when Gomez stopped to help after witnessing a severe accident.
The crash, which took place around 5:30 a.m., involved a rear-end collision that left one car disabled on the highway and another flipped into the median. The driver of the car on the highway, 76-year-old Lee Boone of Virginia, was killed in the crash. The driver of the flipped vehicle was hospitalized with serious injuries and has since been charged with driving under the influence.
In a tragic turn of events, while Gomez was attempting to offer assistance, his vehicle was struck by a Priority Ambulance that was en route to Cocke County from Knoxville. The ambulance, which did not have a patient on board at the time, was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision with Gomez’s car. Sadly, Gomez was pronounced dead at the scene.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the dangers faced by good Samaritans and emergency responders alike when assisting at the scene of accidents. The Knoxville community mourns the loss of Juan Carlos Herrera Gomez, who selflessly put himself in harm’s way to help others in need.