Tennessee State Lawmaker Roy Herron Dies in Jet Ski Accident

Roy Herron, a prominent Tennessee state lawmaker and former chairperson of the state Democratic Party, passed away on Sunday due to injuries sustained in a jet ski accident. He was 69 years old.

Herron had been receiving treatment at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville since July 1st when he collided with another jet ski on Kentucky Lake. The accident resulted in internal bleeding and extensive injuries to his arm and pelvis, as reported by his family's Caring Bridge website.

The details of the collision are currently under investigation by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, but no further information has been released at this time.

In a statement from Herron's family, his wife Rev. Nancy Carol Miller-Herron expressed that her husband loved spending time with their sons and friends outdoors in Tennessee. She said, "He passed doing what he loved most - spending time with our sons and their friends in the Tennessee outdoors where his spirit was always most free."

Hailing from Dresden, Tennessee, Roy Herron served an impressive combined total of 26 years in both the state House and Senate. During his tenure, he held positions such as floor leader and caucus chair for the Democrats. According to his website, Herron never missed a day of session except for when his youngest son was born. From 2013 to 2015, he also chaired the state Democratic Party.

Aside from politics, Herron earned joint degrees in divinity and law from Vanderbilt University as one of its first students to do so. He was ordained as a Methodist minister and authored three books throughout his career.

Funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday at First United Methodist Church located in Martin.

Condolences poured out following news of Herron's passing. Former Vice President Al Gore took to Twitter calling him "a dear friend" while describing him as one of Tennessee's most devoted citizens.

Joe Hill, a longtime Tennessee Democratic political operative who worked closely with Herron on multiple campaigns, stated that "his legacy of advocating for 'the least among us' will represent the gold standard of service for Democrats and Republicans in Tennessee's future."

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If you or a loved one was a victim in this or a similar accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

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