Butler, woman killed in wreck near Watauga Lake

By Tamas Mondovics
Editor
A two-vehicle accident that shut down the state highway in Carter County claimed the life of a Butler woman last week near Watauga Lake.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol THP, the fatal crash involved Marsha Shepherd, 40, Butler, TN who crossed the centerline of Highway 321 traveling southbound near the intersection of Little Stoney Creek Road.
Shepherd hit a car driven by Mountain City, TN resident, Thomas Fortune, 75, who was traveling in the northbound lane. Shepherd died from her injuries, but THP provided no information about Fortune at this. The wreck occurred just after 3 p.m. on Monday, May 21, backed up traffic for miles as the road was closed in both directions while troopers worked to investigate the crash.