Two occupants of a pickup truck were injured about 7:20 a.m. today in a collision with a tractor-trailer in the 6300 block of the Erwin Highway (Tennessee Highway 107).

Deputy Sheriff Rick Williams, who is investigating the collision, said it took place when a 1990 Nissan pickup driven by Paul D. Swatzell, 31, of the 107 Cutoff, went out of control, crossed the centerline of the roadway and struck a 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by David Ramsey, 41, of Bluff City.

Swatzell, according to Williams, told officers he lost control of his pickup after he dropped an object and reached down to pick it up.

In the collision, Deputy Williams said, the left side of the pickup truck struck the left side of the tractor-trailer, flattening one of the larger truck's tires.

After colliding with the tractor-trailer, Deputy Williams said, the pickup truck veered off the left side of the Erwin Highway and traveled up an embankment before coming to rest.

Deputy Williams said pickup truck driver Swatzell and his passenger, Daniel S. Hensley, 33, of Round Knob Road, were transported by a Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services ambulance to Laughlin Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Tractor-Trailer driver Ramsey escaped injury.

Units of the Greeneville Emergency & Rescue Squad, the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department, Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services and the Greene County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the accident by Greene County 911.