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Memorial Created For Blackwell Family Involved In Fatal 421 Crash At Stateline

Last Updated on May 20, 2015 3:07 pm

As family and friends prepare to say their final goodbyes this week to a Mountain City Tennessee family killed in a crash on Saturday, one local business has created a memorial to remember and honor the lives of the young couple and their child.

The crash on 421, at the North Carolina/Tennessee state line, occurred on Saturday night (May 16) when a Chevy truck, driven by Michael Pinkham of Ridgeway South Carolina, crossed the center line and struck the Honda Civic the Blackwell family were traveling in. Nicholas Blackwell, 25, his wife Molly, 24, and 11 month old daughter Harper all died at the scene. Pinkham, 64, died a short time later at Watauga Medical Center.

In the surrealness of the moments following the crash one of the owners of Sharpie's Restaurant, along with some diners that had been in the restaurant, are credited with pulling Pinkham from his burning truck before EMS officials could arrive on the scene. 

   As the outpouring of grief and sadness continues across social media outlets, the owners of Sharpie's wanted to do something to not only honor the Blackwell's, but to help friends, family and EMS officials that worked at the scene.

Earlier this week Cindy and Frankie Isaacs, owners of Sharpie's, planted a circle of flowers with the names of the family on crosses as a memorial. “When family members drive by the site of the accident, we just wanted them to have something to remind them of the beauty of their loved ones, not the tragedy.” Cindy shared with WataugaRoads.com.  

A cause of the crash has not been determined yet and the North Carolina Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation.

Blackwell family memorial 1

Blackwell family memorial 2 

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