Parkside fatality ID’d: ‘illegal drugs’ suspected
A pedestrian killed early Tuesday, Aug. 31, on Parkside Drive has been identified by Knox County Sheriff’s Office as Mark E. Phelan, 34, of Wartburg.
According to the incident report, a Panera-owned tractor trailer driven by Eugene Glover of College Park, Georgia, was traveling eastbound near 11454 Parkside Drive when he encountered Phelan “laying in the inside lane of Parkside Drive.
“The driver was unable to see the pedestrian lying in the roadway due to heavy rains and fog,” the report continued. Additionally, “the pedestrian had on dark clothing and (had a) dark backpack.”
While Glover was not suspected of any drug or alcohol usage, the victim was suspected of “illegal drug use,” stated the report, and toxicology testing was performed posthumously.
No charges were filed against the truck driver.
