Four survive terrifying crash

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

The Chevy S-10 driven by Isidro Barrientos, 19, was demolished during a Friday morning crash in Morrison that left traffic backed up during rush hour. (Duane Sherrill photo)

A rush-hour crash on Highway 55 left four people injured Friday morning when one of the drivers reportedly ran a red light causing the collision in a crowded intersection.

According to Highway Patrolman Eddie Sparkman, the accident happened shortly after 7 a.m. when witnesses say the Chevy S-10 driven by Isidro Barrientos, 19, ran the red light at the intersection of Highway 55 and Old Well Road. Barrientos, who was westbound on Highway 55 along with his two passengers, Juan A. Juarez, 45, and Darinel Molina, 29, was heading to work at a nearby nursery.

Upon entering the intersection, Barrientos collided nearly head-on with the 1990 GMC pick up driven by Richard Ward, which was pulling on to Highway 55 from Old Well Road. The impact ejected Ward from his vehicle, throwing him onto the pavement in the intersection. None of the victims were wearing seatbelts and all are from McMinnville.

Two of the victims, Ward and Molina, were airlifted from the scene by LifeForce helicopter to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. While seriously injured, Sparkman said their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. The other two victims, Barrientos and Juarez were taken to River Park Hospital.