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Murfreesboro crash that killed 14-year-old involved 3 Blackman High teens: ‘It’s tragic’

Updated: 24-10-2024, 12.13 AM

A 14-year-old Blackman High student died in a two-vehicle crash on Veterans Parkway Tuesday morning while three other people sustained non-life-threating injuries, Murfreesboro police confirmed.

A press release from Murfreesboro police spokesman Larry Flowers withheld names Tuesday while the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT) continued its investigation into the incident.

“FACT investigators are (looking into) the cause of the crash, including vehicle speeds, and other contributing factors,” Flowers said.

The teen who died in the crash was a passenger in an Audi A4 sedan, according to the press release. The boy was with two other Blackman High students, a 16-year-old male driver and a 14-year-old backseat passenger, also male, according to Flowers.

Emergency responders were called to the crash at 11:04 a.m. on Veterans Parkway at Kingdom Drive and took the injured students along with the 47-year-old driver of an Acura MDX utility vehicle to Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro for treatment, Flowers said.

The injured students were then taken to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville for further medical care, Flowers said.

“FACT Team Commander Lt. Zachary Ferrell said the preliminary findings suggest a 47-year-old driver attempted to turn left onto Veterans Parkway into the path of the car driven by the 16-year-old,” the press release from Flowers said. “The vehicles collided and spun several times before stopping. The car and SUV sustained significant damage.

“We urge all drivers, teens and adults, to understand that every decision made while driving can have life-altering consequences,” Ferrell said. “Responsible driving behaviors can prevent future tragedies on our roadways.”

Murfreesboro police officers responded to a fatal crash involving two vehicles with one death and three injuries around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, on Veterans Parkway at Kingdom Drive.Murfreesboro police officers responded to a fatal crash involving two vehicles with one death and three injuries around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, on Veterans Parkway at Kingdom Drive.

Murfreesboro police officers responded to a fatal crash involving two vehicles with one death and three injuries around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, on Veterans Parkway at Kingdom Drive.

Schools spokesman responds to fatal crash

Rutherford County Schools spokesman James Evans also confirmed Tuesday night that Blackman High students were involved in the Veterans Parkway crash.

“We are not releasing the names of the students out of respect for the families and their privacy, but we had three students who were in a serious car accident today while traveling back to school, following the volleyball tournament at Rockvale (High),” Evans said.

“Unfortunately, one of the students did not survive the accident, and the other two students are being treated for reported non-life-threatening injuries. This is a heartbreaking tragedy for our school community, and we will have additional counselors available at the school tomorrow (Wednesday) for anyone who needs to speak with someone.”

The Blackman High School volleyball team was competing in the TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) Class AAA state tournament at Rockvale High.

Murfreesboro official says injured student is son of teacher

One of the injured students is the son of an Overall Creek Elementary School teacher, Murfreesboro City School Board Chairman Butch Campbell said. He added that he extends “prayers for the family (of the student) who passed away and for everybody involved.

“It’s tragic,” Campbell said.

This is a developing story. Check back for more information as it becomes available.

Sports writer Cecil Joyce contributed to this story.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Deadly Murfreesboro crash involved 3 Middle Tennessee high schoolers

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