Three people dead following 18-wheeler accident

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — All three men that were inside the car involved in a horrific accident with an 18-wheeler early Tuesday morning have died.

A car’s roof was ripped off. The rest of it was left unrecognizable as it was pried from under the carriage of an 18-wheeler.

Cameras at a nearby restaurant caught a truck heading east on Holmes Road and Crumpler just before 8 a.m.

Deputies said that’s when a gray car heading south ran the red light and slammed the side of the trailer.

The 18-wheeler dragged the car a few feet before it could stop.

The individuals in the front of the car were pronounced dead on the scene. The backseat passenger was airlifted in critical condition to the Regional Medical Center. Early Wednesday morning, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the third person had died.

Myron Deberry was at a store at the corner of the intersection when he heard about the wreck while talking to a stranger in line.

“All we could do is just pray for them, so we both said a short prayer and grabbed our things from the Dollar General store. This is my first time seeing the vehicle,” Deberry said. “It’s tragic. I can only extend my condolences out to their family.”

Deputies were on the scene for several hours. They kept the roads blocked and rerouted traffic as they tried to put the pieces together and figure out what led up to the deadly crash.

Authorities said at this time, they have not been able to determine the identity of those involved and notify their families. They are running tags on the car to try and identify them.