Three fatal accidents in two years at Hickory Hill intersection

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Officers with the Memphis Police Department are investigating after a fiery accident at the corner of Raines and Kirby left three women dead and six others, including a 2-year-old girl, injured Tuesday night.

According to ABC24 records, this is at least the third time since 2022 that a police chase through this intersection has resulted in the death of at least one person.

On Tuesday, MPD officers began pursuing a 16-year-old who is now charged with aggravated robbery and carrying a submachine gun. The suspect is also charged with fleeing arrest; he was not seriously injured in the accident.

According to police, the 16-year-old driver refused to slow down during a traffic stop and officers eventually lost his car. MPD later said other officers saw the teen's car near Kirby Pkwy. and East Raines Rd., where police said the driver ran a red light, causing the five-car crash. One of the cars burst into flames.

Kendrell Cummings said he was at the gas station across the street when the accident occurred Tuesday.

“I'm checking out, [and] “I just hear 'boom' and see the flame blazing outside the window,” he said.

Cummings said he and others ran outside to see what was happening.

“We just thought, 'This is bad,'” he said. “Because the flame was so high… I thought someone had hit a pump and it had just blown up.”

Nearly a year ago, in November 2023, MPD officers pursued a car with a man inside who was accused of shooting at another car with three people inside. MPD officials said the suspected shooter died after a crash near the same intersection.

According to MPD, the prosecution was necessary at the time.

“It's been exclusively police accidents that have caused the most fatal accidents here recently,” said Terani Works, who has lived in Hickory Hill for about a month.

In October 2022, police again pursued a stolen car at the corner of Kirby and East Raines, resulting in another five-car crash that killed the suspect.

MPD officials said two officers were relieved of duty while the accident was investigated.

According to MPD policy, “vehicle pursuits are only permitted when an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that one or more occupants of a fleeing vehicle have committed a violent crime.”

Works said these accidents are a big problem.

“I am truly sorry for the families who suffered the losses last night because this could have been prevented,” she said.

ABC24 reached out to Memphis police to ask if officers followed police policy during Tuesday night's chase. They did not respond.

MPD said the investigation into Tuesday's accident is still ongoing.