A late-night rollover in Raleigh left a 33-year-old woman dead and two small children clinging to life after a Nissan Murano flipped on Stage Road, Memphis police said.
The single-vehicle wreck happened around 10:30 p.m. Thursday near Robbiedon Street. Investigators say the Murano lost control, hit a median and rolled, killing the front-seat passenger and critically injuring the driver’s two children in the back seat.
Officers arrested the driver at the scene and say the investigation into what caused the SUV to leave the roadway is still active.
Memphis Police identified the driver as 33-year-old Travis Johnson. The woman who died was also 33, according to investigators. Officers reported that Johnson’s eyes were bloodshot and that they found two containers of Colt 45 beer in and outside the Murano. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and faces charges that include public intoxication, reckless driving and two counts of reckless endangerment.
The children, a 1-year-old and a 2-month-old, were rushed to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in critical condition. Johnson was treated at a hospital before being taken into custody, according to FOX13 Memphis.
Charges And Booking
After receiving medical care, Johnson was transported to the county jail downtown for booking. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office lists the main jail at 201 Poplar Avenue in downtown Memphis, which handles short-term booking and court holds.
Friends and relatives looking for information about Johnson’s custody status, or hoping to visit an inmate held at the facility, are directed by the sheriff’s office to its online resources for current policies, procedures and contact numbers.
Why This Matters
Police say crashes like this are a grim reminder of how often alcohol-impaired driving shatters families. The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that alcohol-impaired driving continues to account for a large share of traffic deaths nationwide.
In Tennessee, state-level analysis from TRIP shows the state has wrestled with elevated roadway fatality numbers in recent years, even as some recent figures suggest modest improvements. Traffic safety advocates say high-visibility enforcement, education campaigns and community involvement are all part of keeping roads safer and preventing tragedies like the Stage Road crash.
Memphis Police have asked anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have video of the roadway around the time of the wreck to contact the department’s collision investigators, according to FOX13 Memphis. The names of the children and the woman who died have not been released, as authorities continue notifying family members.
Investigators are still working to determine exactly how and why the Murano left the roadway, including whether impairment, speed or other factors played a role.
