| One killed, child injured in accident | | Posted: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:00 pm
| A South Fulton woman was killed and her 4-year-old daughter injured Monday morning when a car struck the rear of a dump truck on Highway 45 between Martin and South Fulton.
Melissa A. Davis, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash that occurred about 10:20 a.m. just past the north fork of the Obion River bridge, two miles north of Martin.
Her passenger, 4-year-old Jaden Rushin of South Fulton, was airlifted to Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, authorities said.
An update on the child’s condition was not available at press time today.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Ms. Davis was northbound on Highway 45 in a 1987 Toyota Camry when she struck the rear of a 2005 2005 Freightliner truck which was beginning to travel north after patching potholes on Highway 45. The Tennessee Department of Transportation truck was driven by Randy Gearin, 56, of Greenfield.
Ms. Davis apparently drove underneath the truck, pushing the truck’s rear axle forward, according to accounts from those at the scene.
An unidentified motorist who witnessed the accident told The Weakley County Press he grabbed the child from the car and took her to Weakley County Ambulance Service personnel who were on the scene. The child was then transported by Air Evac to the Memphis hospital.
The THP said the child was riding in a child restraint device in the back seat of Ms. Davis’ car at the time of the crash. The motorist who removed her said the child was in the front seat after impact.
Gearin and his passenger, Margret A. Kapps, 55, of Dresden, were reported injured in the accident, but the THP report did not list the extent of their injuries.
Also on the scene in Weakley County, near the Obion County line, to assist Monday morning were the Weakley County Rescue Squad, Martin Fire Department and the Weakley and Obion County sheriff’s departments.
THP Trooper Andy Forsythe and an accident reconstruction team were on the scene investigating the crash throughout the morning Monday. No charges were filed.
Published in The WCP 4.23.13 | | | | |
