Alcoa Police Department

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

Your kids are always watching, not just what you say, but how you drive.

Buckle up. Slow down. Pay attention to the road. Drive like they’re learning from you, because they are.

08/27/2026

School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road. Students are actually more at risk of injury when getting on or off the bus than they are while aboard.

Slow down and leave extra following distance for school buses. Pay attention to the road, especially in residential areas during school commuting times.

Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.

08/25/2026

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: Some businesses are back open, and the parking lot is now available for use. ATMOS is still on scene repairing the damage.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: The gas has been shut off in the area. Crews are still on-site repairing the damage to the line.

GAS LEAK, PLEASE BE AWARE:

There is a gas leak at Hamilton Crossing in the shopping complex off of Louisville Road. A vehicle collided with the gas meter in the area, damaging the line.

Businesses in that complex (Salsarita's, Panera, Leslie's Pool Supplies, Appletree Natural Foods, Sweet Retreat, Alcoa Nail Lounge, T-Mobile, and Sports Clips) will be closed while crews work to shut off the gas. Businesses such as Michaels, Ross, ORNL, Cracker Barrel, and others not located at this complex are not affected by this leak.

The Alcoa Police Department, Alcoa Fire Department, and ATMOS are on-site now working to shut off the gas meter.

There is no current ETA for when the leak will be fixed. The complex is currently shut down, and traffic is being rerouted away from the parking lot.

08/25/2026

Speeding is a critical safety issue for teen drivers. As their confidence behind the wheel increases, so does the temptation to test boundaries, especially when peers are present. Take the lead to address speeding with your teen driver and get involved in the learning-to-drive process.

08/21/2026

Speeding is a year-round issue that can’t be addressed enough. It wastes more gas, lowers vehicle control, reduces the effectiveness of vehicle safety features like seat belts, and puts everyone on the road in danger. There are no winners when it comes to speeding.

In 2025, speeding was the cause of 5,943 crashes in Tennessee.

08/20/2026

Kids are less predictable, more impulsive, and may forget to look both ways before crossing the street. Younger children also move more slowly, so they need more time to cross the street. Be especially cautious and alert for children on residential streets, near parks and playgrounds, and in school zones.

08/17/2026

It’s illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus when the stop arm is out with flashing red lights. Always come to a complete stop for school buses when the stop arm is extended, and keep an eye out for kids getting on and off or crossing the street. It only takes a second to make a big difference.

08/13/2026

When a child is inside an unattended vehicle, their temperature can rise quickly and the situation can become dangerous.

No parent or caregiver thinks this can happen to them, but dozens of children each year are either left behind in a vehicle or become trapped inside.

08/11/2026

Rearview cameras and sensors are common in modern vehicles and many of us take them for granted, but the truth is that not every vehicle on the road (or in the parking lot) is equipped with this technology. Attentive driving is still important at all times; You never know when another driver’s line of sight is blocked.

Even if your vehicle has this technology, it’s good to turn around and get a second look for yourself before backing out of a parking space. You never know what—or who—may be just around the corner.