A quiet early morning in Lebanon was disrupted by a high-speed crash that resulted in injuries and significant property damage. The Lebanon Police Department reported speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the incident that occurred around 3:25 a.m., when a vehicle was observed speeding on West Main Street, as per WSMV. Officers found the crashed vehicle off the square after refraining from a pursuit due to weather conditions and the vehicle's velocity. The decision to avoid the pursuit was instead led to notifying adjacent units and providing a description of the car.
Upon response, the police discovered two individuals in the crashed car, one of whom was in serious condition. The driver and the passenger were transported to a hospital for their injuries. The accident necessitated a shutdown of the surrounding square, effectively sealing the area until approximately 8:30 a.m. As reported by WSMV, the crash spanned over 700 feet, wide enough to cause damage to fencing, shrubbery, a tree, and several light poles, in addition to minor damage to several businesses lining the square.
The LPD Traffic Unit spearheaded the preliminary investigation into the crash, highlighting the two suspected factors of speed and alcohol. "Because of the seriousness of the wreck, our Traffic Unit responded to the scene to investigate," the Lebanon Police Department posted on Facebook, as quoted by WKRN. The investigation is still in progress and more details might be disclosed following a thorough analysis.
To bring transparency to the incident, law enforcement shared surveillance footage of the crash, which was captured via their 360-degree camera system installed on the square, as per WKRN. No further information has been released regarding the identities of the involved parties or potential charges they might face.
