Police briefs: Driver charged in Adams crash

Driver charged in Adams crash

The 17-year-old driver in a crash Monday at 4900 Adams Road has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide by impairment, vehicular assault and driving on a suspended license.

The unidentified driver also had an outstanding juvenile attachment for escaping from a juvenile facility in Memphis on Jan. 11.

A 15-year-old freshman at Hixson High School, Michael Wolfe, was killed when he was thrown from the pickup when it spun out of control as it rounded a curve on Adams Road and wrapped around a tree.

Authorities said his 17-year-old sister and the driver also were thrown from the vehicle. Wolfe's sister was listed in critical condition.

The truck was traveling east when it swerved. Police said the driver over-corrected and lost control before crossing the other lane and going airborne. The truck smashed into the tree and wrapped around it before landing on the driver's side.

Wolfe's death marked the first traffic fatality of the year for Chattanooga.


Woman dies in I-75 wreck

A woman is dead after rear-ending a broken-down tractor-trailer heading south on Interstate 75 early Wednesday.

The woman was identified by the Chattanooga Police Department as Robin Lemley, 46.

The truck had a broken drive shaft and was partially in the far right-hand lane after the driver pulled over as far as he could, Chattanooga police said. The driver had set up traffic reflectors and notified police for assistance.

A few minutes later Lemley, driving an SUV, drove into the back of the truck about 6 a.m. between the Ooltewah and Volkswagen Drive exits. She died on impact, police said.

Police said they do not know if Lemley did not see the truck or if something else caused the crash. She was the second city traffic death of the year.

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