A five-car wreck at the intersection of U.S. 70 and Stage Road on Feb.3 just missed gas pumps at the nearby Bartlett Express market. Although one car caught fire, there were no injuries.
The police report said Katherine Alexis Howell, 31, was westbound on Stage Road in the left lane when she crossed the median in a 2012 Dodge Charger and entered the Bartlett Express parking lot. She narrowly missed the gas pumps and a man before striking a highway sign and smashing into Vehicles 2 and 3, a 2006 Ford Explorer and a 2005 Toyota Tundra, which were in the left turn lane on U.S. 70.
The impact spun the Tundra 180 degrees and into a Chevrolet Taho that was stopped on U.S. 70 behind traffic.
The impact knocked a large plastic chemical tank out of the truck onto the fifth vehicle, a 2001 Toyota Corolla. Then the first vehicle burst into flames that the Bartlett Fire Department had to extinguish.
A witness, Derrick Hicks, said he was at the gas pumps when he saw the first vehicle barreling his way. He told officers the accident was so bizarre he thought the driver might be running from the police.
All the vehicles except for the last one had to be towed away because of disabling damage.
The other drivers were Martha Perez (Ford Explorer); Andy J. Bevis (Toyota Tundra); and Michelle R. Purser (Chevrolet Tahoe). The fifth driver was not specified in the police report, but the vehicle owner is Gary A. Folis.
All parties were checked on the scene by fire department paramedics, but none reported injuries or required transportation to a hospital.
Howell was cited for failure to maintain control and driving with a license that was cancelled, suspended or revoked.
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
