MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A woman was killed and four others, including a child, were hurt in a fiery high-speed car crash Saturday morning in Orange Mound.
Police say it may have been the result of a pursuit.
►SEE ALSO: Police pursuit ends in fatal crash on Highway 51 in Southaven
Memphis Police say the two-vehicle wreck happened just before 3 a.m. at Park Avenue and Ethel.
A woman was pronounced dead on the scene, police said. Another woman in that car was in critical condition at Regional One hospital, while a man and a girl were taken to hospitals in non-critical condition.
The driver in the other vehicle had injuries that were not critical.
Witnesses said a car was driving at a high speed when it lost control and hit another car. The second car spun out into a nearby tire shop and burst into flames.
“When they hit the dip, they hit a white car. When they hit the car, the impact from that made them slide over to the building. Once they slid to the building, the car caught fire,” witness Trey Brady said.
Wilson Tires went up in flames, along with the car.
Brady said he tried to help pull people to safety, but the flames were intense, and ammunition inside the car was exploding in the fire.
“I guess it was a gun in the car because some shots rang off,” Brady said. “I guess it had melted the gun. And we thought somebody was shooting, but I guess it came from the car.”
Video taken at the scene confirms that account. (WARNING: Graphic language in video)
Preliminary information indicates that a police pursuit may have preceded the crash, but that has not yet been confirmed, MPD said Saturday at noon.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Memphis Police Department has requested the assistance of the Tennessee Highway Patrol to handle this investigation,” MPD said in a news release.
Police directed further questions to THP.