Two killed in Viola Road crash

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Emergency vehicles surround the wreckage of the car driven by Eddie West which was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Viola Highway Monday night. West died at the scene when his vehicle was struck in the driver’s side.

Two people were killed Monday night in a crash on Viola Road which occurred as a motorist was backing out of a driveway.

Fatally injured were both drivers including Eddie L. West, 26, and Leslie E. Russell, 44. West’s passenger, Stephen Ray Allen Griffin, 32, suffered non-lifethreatening injuries and was treated at River Park Hospital.

According to Highway Patrolman Gary Myers, the accident happened just outside the McMinnville city limits on Viola Road (Highway 108) around 9 p.m. Preliminary reports revealed West was backing out of a driveway in his 1994 Mazda and was sitting crossways in the road when he was met by the northbound 1986 Cadillac driven by Russell.

The investigation showed Russell had just negotiated a curve when he met the West vehicle in his lane of traffic. Myers said there was evidence Russell tried to slow his car to avoid the crash but was unable to avoid impact. The Russell vehicle then slammed into the driver’s door of the West vehicle.

West was dead at the scene while Russell was pronounced dead at River Park Hospital. Investigators do not believe either of the fatally injured victims were wearing seatbelts. An investigation is continuing into the crash.