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Teresa K. McInnis (background, behind truck) looks with horror at damage caused after her truck ran across Madison Street, striking a car in traffic, and into the lot of Trust Auto Sales. (T-G Photo by David Melson) |
A Shelbyville man was in unconscious but stable condition at a Nashville hospital this morning after a Madison Street crash which left eight vehicles damaged or destroyed Wednesday afternoon.
Charles R. Jewell Jr., 20, Railroad Avenue, was hurt when his Ford Taurus was struck hard in the driver's side by a large box truck driven by Teresa K. McInnis, 46, Morrison.
Jewell was turning off Bethany Lane onto Madison Street when struck by the eastbound truck, Griffy said.
 The car driven by Charles R. Jewell Jr. took a direct hit on the driver's side. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge] |
Jewell was taken to Bedford County Medical Center, then flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. He suffered head and other traumatic injuries, Accident Investigator Matt Griffy of the Shelbyville Police Department said.
McInnis was uninjured.
The truck careened into the lot of Trust Auto Sales after striking the Jewell car. The truck's cab ended up approximately eight feet off the ground atop one smashed car, which was on its side. Six vehicles on the lot were damaged or destroyed.
McInnis's Freightliner truck is owned by Absolute Cartage of McMinnville, Griffy said; signs painted on the truck's doors indicated the firm is based in Nashville.
The accident, reported at 1:44 p.m.. is still under investigation, Griffy said.
I saw this accident and it was horrible. I am sure we could not make this truck driver feel any worse than she already does. It was an accident and unfortunately accidents happen. My thoughts and prayers are with both her and the boy that was injured. I go through this intersection everyday and it is very dangerous. I have been more cautious since witnessing this accident.
in reguards to the accident with the truckdriver after everyone has put a comment on this ! So will I. I am a truckdriver Im postive she was just driving to do her job. Things happen all the time they are called ACCIDENTS! And beleive it or not people they happen. Im sure the driver did not want to hurt anyone If so she would not have had a job driving a semi not just anyone can do this! But sometimes Accidents happen and (JUST REMEMBER IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU A (ACCIDENT) WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN TO YOU! IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE TODAY OR ANYTIME
I am not going to comment on the accident but I am also sick of hearing people condemn our law enforcement and I would venture to say that the people who continuously complain are the same who are continuously in trouble with the law. All professions have good and bad employees.
Witnesses told police Jewell had a green traffic light on Bethany Lane. McInnis told investigators the light was green on Madison Street.
Where were they? That is an incredibly busy intersection.... there were witness's in cars... waiting on the lights to change, people in stores, people walking down the streets... etc. You heard both lights were green, but that doesnt make it true.
Charlie's family was informed today that "your mother" was arrested for Reckless Endangerment... if thats true, I guess Shelbyville's finest did their job, and in only a week.... hopefully tomorrow there will be an update in the paper.
Melicious,
i never said i was at the accident. if you'd read back to my statement i also never said who's fault it was because nobody know's if there were so many witness's where were they?
if there was anybody behind jewell wouldnt they have been hit also?
and i've also heard both lights was green if "shelbyvilles finest" is that great why arent the street lights in order? this isnt the first time this has happend "right?"
i'm not here defending anybody.
my mom is a very sincer person and would never attentionlly hurt anybody! trust me this accident has really dawned on her. she is praying as well as our family for charlie and hoping he'll recover!
about the cameras: how come this hasnt already tooken place? it's almost been a week? seems like "shelbyvilles finest" would be on top of that? unless they've already took them down
Charlie, his family and loved one's, appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers. It will be an uphill battle for sometime, but I personally believe Charlie is a fighter.
I won't disclose details about him on the net, but he has made some improvements, and has given us all hope.
Kano08,
Believe me, they "Shelbyville's Finest" will investigate. There are cameras on all the street corners, where the accident took place, and there were MANY witness's...AND like you said, only your mother and Charlie really know what happened... you werent there either... so take your own advice.
I know Charlie and prayers are with him and his family. No matter what anyone says, he can come out if this. I truly believe that.
As for the blame, it does no good to blame anyone, because what's done is done, and all you can do is pray for both families.
I also heard that both lights were green and that this wasn't there first time it happened.
in driving a semi, or any kind of commercial vehicle it sometimes is very hard to slow down. most of the time when you're right up on the light and it's green it automatically turns yellow before you have time to stop.
as in carrying 2,000 pounds in the back of the truck it is hard to slow down.
i'm not saying that's what happend- just explaining.
kan08, sorry for both people involved in a the wreck, but yellow means slow down, caution, be prepared to stop. Nobody needs to try to beat the yellow light. Yes accidents happen, and I am sure your mom did not mean to hurt anyone, but some accidents are preventable when you follow all laws.
actually my mother was the driver of this truck.
not ANYBODY who wasnt with jewell or mcinnis will actually know what happend so don't say something happend unless you actually know what did! me and my mtoher both went back down to the accident the day after and sat and watched the red light which changed within atleast 5 seconds from yellow to red.
accidents happen don't blame anybody.
it was in gods hands. my mother was not on her cell phone. and she also had her seatbelt on..
my mom has had her cdl lisense since 1989 and is a very careful driver with not one bad driving record.
our prayers and thoughts are out to jewell and his family with hoping he'll make a safe recovery.
and as for people saying it was my mom's fault. -dont say it unless you saw it happen
what is also weird is how my mom and jewell was the ONLY two cars that collided in the crash with that being such a busy intersection. it would've looked like to me there wouldve been more involved if the truck driver ran the red light!
you shouldn't put two cents in unless you know for sure what happend
like i said our thoughts and prayers our out to hisself and his family
**about the cell phone, officers can go back and trace the last call, text that was made!
Why do people insist on running the law enforcement agencies of Bedford County into the ground when something like this occurs? I know that there are some officers who have a questionable work ethic but for most, they perform their job to the best of their ability using what resources they have and still do not earn the money they should. There was a wreck. Whose fault it was will be determined by the investigators. We will keep the injured in our thoughts and hope for the best outcome. I will not, however, condemn the people who put their lives on the line on a daily basis for the people they have sworn to "Protect and Serve". Find something else to complain about or keep quiet.
Melicious,
I wasn't referring Charles being on his cell phone. I meant the apparent "at fault" driver being the one who was preoccupied. I'd bet the cell phone calling and texting are close to taking over the number one reason for auto wrecks today. I drive about 90 miles a day and you would be amazed at what I see on the road.
I know that with the gps technology available today, cell phone manufacturers could develop phones that would disable at certain speeds. There are GPS systems today that will warn a driver when they are speeding. I'd like to see legislation put into place that would disable a cell phone if a GPS tracker detected movement over 30 MPH. Granted, that wouldn't eliminate use while driving, but would prevent the high speed collisions anyway.
Rhebea96;
I stand corrected, however it's still going to the attorney's. Being a victim of 2 drunks in my lifetime, no amount of compensation can cure the damage. I hope for the best for Charles.
Actually, in regards to liability, Tennessee is a Modified Comparative Negligence state. In this instance, thankfully there were witnesses who confirmed Charles had a green light.
I also am praying that he will make a full recovery.
Dear Bloggers:
Here are the rules of the road in Shelbyville since I've been here in the last 14 years:
1. Stop Sign- Ignore & Keep going.
2. Main Street- You need a Formula 1 Car
3. Lights- Green to Yellow-Floor It
Where did the new generation get their licenses,Monkey Ward, or Sears & Sawbuck?
As a previous Insurance Adjuster/Investigator,
I hope the injured driver will be OK. I have my doubts because Big Truck vs Little Car, Little car always loses.
In Tennessee, witch is a Contributory Negligent State, when the Insurance attorney's get involved, if the public is informed, you probably won't like the outcome. My hope is for the injured driver, he will never be the same and no compensation can makeup for this accident, because of somebody else's dumb move.
I find when I drive here YOU cannot take your eyes off the road for 1 second. There is always something happening, 50 feet from you.
My rules: Cell phone ring: leave it, It will give you a call back number when you get where your your going, or pull over and stop.
Don't change the radio when driving or something falls on the floor, leave it!
Keep your eyes peeled.
Stay away from downtown. It won't change. I found another way to work.
Just my 2 cents.
the traffic direction signals at this intersection are messed up, with the center lane being designated as forward and left turn lane (entering Madison from Bethany or Lane). Im shocked this has not caused more wrecks at this location. These changes to this intersection were made last year for some reason,,,,,,, or not.
-- Posted by man of reason on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 5:19 PM
Yes, I have noticed this as well.. You get two "green arrows" going in the same directions... Potentially deadly situation. I heard about this accident and hope and pray that the victim will recover!
My prayers are with this family. The T-G can only list what condition the hospital states a person is in due to privacy laws.
I have been at the video store around 7:30 on a saturday nite and a officer was in there with his patrol car running outside and he was getting movies.
the traffic direction signals at this intersection are messed up, with the center lane being designated as forward and left turn lane (entering Madison from Bethany or Lane). Im shocked this has not caused more wrecks at this location. These changes to this intersection were made last year for some reason,,,,,,, or not.
the reason you see all the police cars parked behind their office is because most officer's have to share patrol cars. the officers that are working are on the streets patroling.
I have seen a lot of drivers run red lights and stop signs, and there are never any police around. What are they doing? If you go by the police station there are at least 20 police cars sitting there. Why aren't they out patroling. ONE time I saw one out and they totally missed the person running the red light right before their eyes. Maybe their shift was over and they didn't feel like messing with it. I'm glad the driver didn't hurt anybody.
My prayers are with Charles and his family.
I have passed several police cars with the officers that are driving using their cell phones.If they pass this as a law it should apply to everyone. Hopefully the young man in this accident is going to be alright, that is what really matters in this situation anyway.
I know the victim in this crash... it's my brothers best friend. He was NOT on his cell phone... but the semi driver may have been... witness's said she d8idnt even slow down, just blew her horn and rammed right into him... The paper states he is in stable condition, which is a lie.. he is on life-support @ Vanderbuilt. I hope the police investigate this, and the approprate charges are made!
Last Friday night I had just gotten off work and was on my way home. At that very same red light it was on red on Madison St. and I stopped. The person behind me stopped but a car that came up beside me in the other lane ran through the red light just like it wasn't even there. I started to call and report it but I knew it would not do any good because they would just tell me that an officer would have to see it and I think that is a very bad way to respond to situations like that. Some accidents I think could maybe be prevented if police took these calls more seriously.
never know but yesterday i seen about 5 people talking on there cells and one was turning and like to have ran in to me bad as drinking and driving
Probably talking on a cell phone! I wish they would outlaw cell phone use while driving a vehicle. Text messaging is even more dangerous!