Teen killed when truck hits tree: All six passengers ejected, alcohol suspected
One teen was killed and five injured when their truck struck a tree on Fred Hoover Road Sunday afternoon, throwing all the passengers from the vehicle.
The fatally injured teen, Shannon M. Green, 16, was killed when she was thrown from the 1999 Ford F150 driven by James Nicholas Harrell, 17. The driver and the passengers are all from Coffee County. Also injured was Katie Hillis, 14, who is in stable condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter shortly after the wreck. Transported and treated at River Park Hospital were fellow passengers, Kimberly Brook Green, 14, Albert C. Holmes, 17, and Matthew Brown 17.
According to Highway Patrolman Mike Jones, the accident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Fred Hoover Road near its intersection with Bouldin Road. The roads are located off Five-Mile Road which runs from Morrison to Viola.
A preliminary investigation revealed the Harrell truck was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and ran off the side of the paved road. The truck then re-entered the roadway and crossed over to the other side and hit a tree, with the impact ejecting all six passengers.
Jones said none of the passengers were wearing seatbelts, and the fact they were unrestrained contributed to the tragedy.
“Just buckling up would have made a world of difference in this case,” Jones said. “It’s doubtful anyone would have even been seriously injured if they were wearing seatbelts.”
Along with speeding and a lack of seatbelts, Jones said there was evidence of drinking. An investigation is continuing with charges pending.