Cookeville, TN – At 8:50 PM on August 3, 2021, officers responded to the area of West Jackson Street near Buffalo Valley Road in reference to a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle. Upon arrival, officers discovered 31-year-old motorcyclist James P. Austin of Cookeville deceased from the crash.
Initial investigation indicated that Mr. Austin was operating a 2014 Kawasaki motorcycle traveling westbound on West Jackson Street. A 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by 62-year-old Albert F. Officer of Rickman was traveling eastbound on West Jackson Street attempting a left turn into the parking lot of On The Way gas station located at 859 West Jackson Street when the vehicles collided.
A passenger on the motorcycle, 30-year-old Megan M. Massa, was critically injured and was flown from the scene by an Erlanger Life Force 2 helicopter. Ms. Massa remains in critical condition at the time of this release.
This crash remains under investigation. If anyone witnessed the crash and has not yet spoken with police, please call the Traffic Enforcement Division of the Cookeville Police Department at 931-520-5321 or the main police station at 931-526-2125.