By Jim Beller

SAINT CLAIR - A Hawkins County woman was hospitalized following a one-vehicle accident on Highway 113 Thursday.

According to Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Billy Collier, Penny Gail Gibbs, 53, 2066 Walter Dr., Bulls Gap, was driving north on 113 when the vehicle slipped off the road, lost control and crashed into the creek right beside the Bulls Gap Fire Department in Saint Clair near Melinda Ferry Road.

"When I got here, she was still conscious. She was talking to me, but was stuck in the vehicle and couldn't get out, and was complaining about knee, back and shoulder injuries," Collier said.

"She told me that she just blacked out. She doesn't know what happened."

Due to her injuries, Gibbs was unable to get out of the vehicle, a black 1996 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, owned to Karla Young, Bulls Gap, and had to be extricated.

"Hawkins County Rescue Squad did the extrication," Collier said. "It took them about 15 to 20  minutes and they had her out, backboarded her. Hawkins County EMS took her on to the Hawkins County Emergency Room."

It's not known yet if she was restrained.

"She didn't strike anything other than the ditch, so right now unless something comes up at the hospital, there are no charges pending," Collier said.

"The only thing that happens in that scenario is there will be a request for a medical examination for re-test on drivers license," he said.

 Gibbs was the only person in the truck.

"She and a small dog in a dog box in the back were the only ones in the vehicle," Collier said.  "The dog was uninjured."