GREENBACK-A local newspaper publisher was injured in an early morning crash in Greenback on Monday.

According to published reports, William Daniel "Dan" Hall, 31, was hit head-on by Nicholas Steffa, 41, of Sweetwater around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, while traveling from Maryville on Highway 411 to Vonore.

Troopers indicated in their report that Steffa may have been impaired while driving and charges are pending.

Dan Hall is co-owner and pub­lisher of The Daily News Express, a daily publication in Monroe County. The newspaper production has been halted until staffers can reorganize, as the publication is a family business.

"The DNE is a family business and right now family comes first," said brother David Hall. "We're looking at printing by the end of the week, but we're not 100 per­cent sure at this point."

Dan does not remember any­thing about the accident. 

"He says he doesn't remember seeing the car coming toward him, which may be a good thing," said David. "If he had, he would have swerved and the impact may have been worse."

David said Dan underwent several surgeries on Monday to repair numerous broken bones in his legs and reconstruction on his hand/wrist. He has been upgrad­ed from critical to stable condition and is currently in the ICU at UT Medical Center.

"They'll probably keep him in there for a few days," said David.

At press time, the latest update was that Dan has a broken right femur, broken fingers, a hand and wrist fracture, numerous broken ribs and facial lacerations. David said Dan had taken a few steps on Tuesday and was able to sit in a chair.

David said Steffa, who recently appeared in Monroe County's Most Wanted, is also in ICU at UT Medical Center.