Woman lucky to survive as car plunges into dense brush

Todd Carter of Bedford County Fire Department fills out a report on an accident involving Debbie Hendrix of Shelbyville while looking down the embankment near U.S. 41-A South off which her car plunged Thursday.
(T-G Photo by David Melson) [Order this photo]

Ironically, the accident occurred as the driver was attempting to refasten her seat belt, State Trooper Chad McAnally said.

Debbie Hendrix, 44, Warners Bridge Road, was northbound about 11:30 a.m. about a half-mile south of the former site of Davis Hill Market when she attempted to retrieve an item on her car's front seat, McAnally said.

The action caused Hendrix's seat belt to loosen, McAnally said.

Hendrix lost control of the car while struggling with the seat belt, the trooper said, and ran off the right side of the road.

The car ran approximately 30 feet down a steep embankment before becoming lodged against several large trees.

Several witnesses saw the car run off the road and notified authorities.

"She's lucky someone saw her," McAnally said. "She wouldn't have been able to get back up that hill (on foot)."

The car was nearly hidden from view under thick trees and underbrush. Rescue workers expressed concern about the car possibly moving while rescue efforts were underway.

Hendrix was treated for chest pain at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma, McAnally said.