Police identify Milligan crash victims

By Robert Sorrell

The Elizabethton Police Department has identified two individuals involved in an accident on Tuesday morning on the Milligan Highway which claimed one life.

According to police, the male driver of a BMW that crashed into a sign at Milligan Grocery at 1:47 a.m. has been identified as Micah Cates, 20, of Elizabethton. He was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center with serious injuries. A male passenger, identified as Tanner Perkins, 20, of Elizabethton, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speed was determined to be a contributing factor but it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved. Police say no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

Cates was listed in stable condition at the JCMC on Tuesday evening.