An employee at a Middlesboro funeral home was one of three people killed in a crash on Saturday at the Highway 33 bridge in Union County, Tennessee.

Joshua Dylan Scott, 22, was an apprentice funeral director and embalmer at Green Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.

According to a release from the Tennessee Constables Association, Union County Constable John Dennis received a report of a white Dodge pick-up driving recklessly in Sharps Chapel at about 5:56 p.m. It was reported that the vehicle had struck a mailbox and a tree. Dennis was in the area and passed the truck on Sharps Chapel Road near Palmer Junction. He observed the vehicle going 65 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone.

Dennis turned around and saw the vehicle stopped in a parking lot so he pulled in and activated his emergency lights. When Dennis exited his vehicle, the truck left going toward Highway 33 at a high rate of speed. The constable pursued and caught a glimpse of the truck as it ran a stop sign at the intersection of Sharps Chapel Road and Highway 33.

He did not see the truck again until he caught sight of it colliding with a van at the north end of the bridge, catching fire, and going airborne over the side of the bridge. When Dennis arrived on scene, he quickly grabbed his extinguisher and attempted to save the victims of the burning vehicle. A deputy from the Union County Sheriff’s Office also arrived at the scene and attempted to help Dennis extinguish the fire, but they were overcome with fire and smoke while trying to reach into the vehicle. Both officers received non-life threatening injuries.

Two victims in the suspect vehicle and one in the van were pronounced dead at the scene. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is continuing an investigation into the incident. The driver and passenger in the truck have not been identified.

Scott was identified by Green Hills Funeral Home as the driver in the van. The staff at Green Hills released the following statement:

“It is with the utmost sorrow, heartache, and shock that we must address the sudden passing of our own Joshua Scott. Josh filled our funeral home with his love and compassion for serving others, his huge smile and entertaining personality. Many of you within our community and whom we have serviced were well acquainted with Josh and came to love him as much as we did. He was an outstanding Christian young man with a servant’s heart. Full of life and eager to grow in his career here at the funeral home, Josh had recently earned so many achievements such as being approved to serve an Apprenticeship as a Funeral Director and Embalmer, and likewise had enrolled in Mortuary school. We ask during this time that our focus be about nothing more than Josh and the exceptional person that he was. We appreciate each one of you who has contacted us with love and condolences. It is this support that will carry us through the days ahead, so we ask that you please cover Josh’s family, our work family, and the community that he served so proudly in prayer as we face this unimaginable grief.”

According to his obituary, Scott was a 2019 graduate of Hancock County High School where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America. He was also a member of Mt. Zion Church, Big Spring Union 581 Masonic Lodge and the Shawanee Order of the Eastern Star.

The family of Josh Scott will receive friends on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Green Hills Funeral Home.
Masonic Services will be conducted on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Green Hills Funeral Home with the funeral service to follow with Rev. Gary Fletcher officiating.
Josh will also receive special honors and recognition for his service and dedication to the funeral profession.
Graveside services will follow in the family cemetery in the Alanthus Hill Community of Tazewell, Tennessee.
His complete obituary can be found at www.greenhillsfuneralhome.com.