A minor is in a fight for their life after being hit by a vehicle Tuesday evening at one of Midtown Memphis’ busiest intersections. Officers responded to the corner of Summer Avenue and North Hollywood Street, and the victim was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. The driver stayed at the scene while investigators combed through the area.
Where It Happened
Police were called out at 5:05 p.m. on a report of a pedestrian struck at the intersection, according to Action News 5. That report notes that the driver did not leave the scene and that the victim, described only as a minor, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Summer Avenue Safety Work
The crash happened on a piece of Summer Avenue that has already been under the microscope for traffic and safety problems. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has launched a $69.4 million widening project that will add lanes, replace bridges and build pedestrian infrastructure aimed at improving safety, according to a TDOT news release. Local reporting has followed the project and its traffic impacts as crews take on the multi-year rebuild, with coverage noting how it is reshaping one of the city’s busiest corridors, as tracked by the project.
Investigation Underway
The Memphis Police Department says the collision remains under investigation, and officials have not yet released more details about what led up to the crash, according to Action News 5. Authorities have also not publicly confirmed the victim’s exact age.
Why It Matters
Summer Avenue is expected to be a work zone for years, and the mix of heavy traffic and construction is not going away any time soon. The rebuild is slated to run through the end of the decade, with TDOT listing an estimated completion date of June 30, 2028. Until the project is finished, residents and planners say they are looking to those long-promised pedestrian upgrades to eventually help cut down on collisions along one of Memphis’s key east–west routes.
