In what could read like a slapstick attempt at parallel parking gone wrong, a driver in Covington, Tennessee, managed to turn the side of a building into a gaudy parking spot for his white Chevrolet truck. Details shared by the Covington Police Department's social media posts reveal that the incident occurred on October 5, when the suspect's vehicle left an unexpected dent in local architecture. The authorities were called to Jamieson Drive and Haynie Street, following the crash that happened around 8:00 PM.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered the driver, 23-year-old Tony Allen of Jean Cove in Millington, TN, had fled the scene with an accompanying passenger. After a brief investigation and aided by witness reports, police located the two individuals about 50 feet from the site of the crash. Allen, who reportedly experienced a brake lock-up before skidding into the residence, was taken into custody. It's worth noting that Allen's driver's license had been previously suspended, not once, but twice, for failure to appear in court.
While the resident of the damaged building was unharmed and safely relocated, the Covington Housing Authority highlighted the significant damage to the building's wall and air conditioning unit, the latter knocking up a bill of around $10,000. There's no final word yet on the complete financial toll to the building's structure – that figure remains undetermined. The truck certainly did not escape unscathed either, as it was towed away from what it mistakenly took for a parking spot.
Chief Donna Turner expressed gratitude that there were no pedestrians caught in the chaos, commenting, "We were blessed that no one was struck or injured in the crash." Allen is currently facing multiple charges, including Failure to Exercise Due Care, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Vandalism, and Driving on a Suspended Driver's License. According to the Covington Police Department on Facebook, he'll see his day in court later this month for an initial arraignment and is out on a $15,000 corporate bond. For those with more information on this vehicular misadventure, the Covington Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is open to tips.
This case stands as a cut-and-dry reminder that while a driver might bail from the scene of an accident, the wheels of justice, alongside community vigilance, ensure that few such transgressions simply drive away into the night. Should the desire arise to assist in the ongoing investigation, community members can reach out via Facebook Messenger to the Covington TN Police Department or through the City of Covington website.
