Nodaway Valley student killed in motorcycle accident

A motorcycle-SUV collision took the life of 17-year-old Zoey Van Eaton of Fontanelle 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in west Nashville, Tennessee.

According to a report from the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, Zoey was a passenger on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by her father, Scott Van Eaton, 49, of Fontanelle when the fatal accident occurred.

A preliminary investigation by Nashville Police indicates Scott lost control of the motorcycle while negotiating a curve in the westbound lane of River Road, causing the motorcycle to slide into the opposing lane of traffic. The motorcycle was then struck by a Subaru Forrester driven east on River Road by Betty Hunt, 62, of Sawyer Brown Road.

Hunt reported she was unable to avoid the collision. Zoey and Scott were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where Zoey was pronounced deceased. Her father is in critical but stable condition.

Hunt was not injured.

There was no evidence of drug or alcohol involvement at the scene on the part of either driver.

Zoey would have been a senior at Nodaway Valley High School this fall. Grief counselors were made available to students at the Nodaway Valley High School from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday.

In a statement by Superintendent Casey Berlau on the Nodaway Valley Community School District’s Facebook page Thursday, Berlau said, “We encourage anyone, student, staff, parent or community member, to take advantage of this service. During this time, we ask that you join the Nodaway Valley community in keeping the Van Eaton family in your thoughts and prayers. Today is a difficult day for the Nodaway Valley community.”