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Two-vehicle accident claims Hornbeak woman

Two-vehicle accident claims Hornbeak woman

A Hornbeak senior citizen died late Monday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 51 near Union City.
Retha Wallace, 78, was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident that occurred about 11:40 a.m. near the 14-mile marker of Highway 51, about two miles south of Union City, according to Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Jones.
Ms. Wallace was northbound in the outside lane of Highway 51 when she apparently made an abrupt left turn from her lane toward a crossover divider into the path of a 2001 Pontiac driven by Colette Kendall of Union City, who was northbound in the inside lane closest to the median. Ms. Kendall’s car struck Ms. Wallace’s 1987 Nissan compact pickup truck in the driver’s side mid-section, sending the pickup into the grassy median, Jones reported.
Ms. Wallace, who was not restrained with a seat belt, was ejected from her vehicle during the crash. Obion County Medical Examiner Dr. Mark Fowler pronounced her dead at the scene a short time later. (See related obituary, Page 2.)
Ms. Kendall was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City, where she was treated and released for apparently minor injuries. Jones said she was also not wearing a seat belt and was protected by her vehicle’s air bag.
Both women were traveling alone at the time. Jones said initial reports of the accident indicated that three vehicles were involved but it actually involved only the two vehicles.
The accident remains under investigation, according to Jones, who said no charges have been filed.
The THP was assisted at the scene Monday by the Obion County Rescue Squad, the Obion County Sheriff’s Department and Regional Emergency Medical Services ambulance crews.
Ms. Wallace’s death marks the second traffic fatality this year in Obion County.
Published in The Messenger 5.20.08