Crash injures drivers

Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 5:00 pm

The Messenger, May 22, 2013
Both drivers were injured Tuesday evening in a two-vehicle crash on West Reelfoot Avenue in Union City.
The crash occurred shortly after 5 p.m. just west of the intersection with Old Troy Road, according to a Union City Police Department report.
The two drivers — Lovie Hatchett, 58, of 2448 Vernon St., Union City, and Kevin Edward Burdette, 29, of 300 North Drive, Union City — were taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City for treatment.
According to the report, an off-duty Union City police officer said he was behind Burdette’s 2012 Dodge while stopped at a traffic light turning eastbound onto West Reelfoot Avenue from Walmart Supercenter. The officer said an unknown red sports car was in the left lane beside Burdette’s vehicle.
At the green light, the officer said both Burdette’s vehicle and the red car took off from the light “at an extremely high rate of speed and appeared to be racing.”
Ms. Hatchett was exiting Long John Silvers off Old Troy Road and came across the highway turning eastbound onto West Reelfoot Avenue. She got into the right lane of the highway “when (Burdette’s vehicle) closed in behind,” police reported. The off-duty officer claimed Burdette had plenty of time to slow down but instead accelerated into the left lane and passed Ms. Hatchett at a high rate of speed.
Once in front of Ms. Hatchett’s vehicle, Burdette allegedly slammed on his brakes once, causing Ms. Hatchett to almost hit him. Immediately, Burdette allegedly slammed on his brakes again, resulting in the crash.
The off-duty officer said Ms. Hatchett was bleeding and showed signs of neck and back injuries, but Burdette allegedly refused to speak with the officer, locked his door and drove off the roadway into the grass, according to the report.
Burdette was charged with reckless driving, while Ms. Hatchett was cited for financial responsibilty law violation, police reported.