A Love Lost in Seconds: Angela and Kevin Childress Killed in Morgan County Motorcycle Crash Caused by Alleged Drunk Driver
MORGAN COUNTY, TENN. — What began as a peaceful ride on a warm Tennessee Tuesday turned into an unspeakable tragedy that ended two lives in an instant. Angela and Kevin Childress, a devoted husband and wife, were killed in a horrific crash along Highway 62 in Coalfield after an intoxicated driver crossed the center line and struck their motorcycle.
The driver, identified as 45-year-old Scotty Tinker, now faces two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and DUI charges after authorities say he was behind the wheel of a minivan, impaired, and transporting an 8-year-old passenger at the time of the crash.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tinker’s vehicle veered across the center line near the Snack N Pack and Dollar General, violently colliding with the motorcycle and sending Angela and Kevin to their deaths. The minivan reportedly dragged the motorcycle off the road before coming to a final, uncontrolled stop in the front yard of a residence at 5942 Knoxville Highway.
Angela and Kevin, who shared years of love and memories, were taken in an instant — not by chance, but by reckless choice. Their lives, full of meaning and moments yet to be lived, were stolen by a decision that should never have been made.
Their identities were confirmed by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office late Tuesday evening. Since then, grief has swept through the community, with friends and family heartbroken, stunned, and struggling to comprehend how such a preventable tragedy could happen.
“They were inseparable,” one close friend shared through tears. “They lived for each other — always riding together, always laughing together. This wasn’t just a crash. It was the end of a love story.”
The news has sparked outrage and sorrow across social media and in the tight-knit Morgan County community. For many, it’s a devastating reminder of the lives destroyed by drunk driving — not just the victims, but the families left behind, now drowning in grief.
Scotty Tinker and the 8-year-old child were both taken to Methodist Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries. Authorities later arrested Tinker, and District Attorney General Russell Johnson confirmed the DUI and vehicular homicide charges.
As the legal process unfolds, loved ones are left picking up the pieces of a shattered reality. Two vibrant souls who lived and loved deeply are now gone — victims of a crash that never should have happened.
Angela and Kevin Childress are remembered not only for the love they shared with each other, but for the joy they brought to all who knew them. Their journey ended too soon, but their memory will forever ride on in the hearts of those they leave behind.
Rest in peace, Angela and Kevin.
You rode together in life — and now, you ride together into eternity.
