A local driver suffered a horrible injury last Saturday evening after being involved in a one-car accident on rainy and wet roads, while another crash on Monday resulted in the second DeKalb fatality in a month.

On Saturday, at approximately 10:43 pm, E-911 dispatchers received a call reporting a vehicle accident on Short Mountain Highway, north of Tabernacle Road. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 29-year-old Laura P. Palomo Morales was driving a 2016 Jeep Cherokee north on Short Mountain Highway, when the Jeep went off the right side of the road, then came back onto the roadway. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree head on.

Deputies with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, units with the DeKalb County Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, and THP responded to the scene. Authorities say the vehicle came to final rest in a yard at 9088 Short Mountain Highway.

First responders say the woman received severe injuries in the crash, including a severed hand. She was transported to the hospital by DeKalb EMS where she was treated for serious injuries.

According to the THP report, no charges are pending in the case.

On Monday, local first responders arrived at the scene of a devastating two-car crash on Sparta Highway that claimed the life of a Sparta woman.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, at 2:12 pm E-911 received a call reporting a head-on collision between two vehicles on Sparta Highway, near Hillcrest Market. The DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, and THP responded to the scene.

Authorities say that 57-year-old Rhonda Wilson of Sparta was traveling east on Highway 70 in a 2005 silver Buick. At the same time, 32-year-old Jason Ervin of Four Seasons Road, Smithville was traveling west.

Ervin allegedly reported that he had fallen asleep while driving, with his truck crossing the double yellow line into the path of the Wilson vehicle. While Wilson reportedly tried to avoid the crash, both vehicles collided driver’s side to driver’s side.

The Buick came to rest, off of the roadway, facing north, while truck overturned in the eastbound lane. When first responders arrived at the scene, Ervin was walking with only minor injuries. He was not transported to the hospital.

Wilson was killed at the scene. An extrication unit with DeKalb Fire had to be called to the scene in order to remove Wilson from the wreckage.

Ervin was cited for failure to maintain lane of travel and for having no insurance.