May 14, 2001

May 14, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Firefighters busy with afternoon accidents

Shreveport firefighters were busy this afternoon working two major accidents that occurred within 30 minutes of each another, one involving the hit-and-run of a SporTran bus. The first accident occurred at 11:29 a.m. at the intersection of Greenwood Road and Hearne Avenue. City bus 409, carrying seven passengers, was eastbound on Greenwood Road when it crossed under a green light at the intersection. The buss’ driver, Leonard Jenkins, 51, reported that a Ford pickup coming from the opposite direction’s turn land, raced in front of the bus and struck the busses front right corner with its bed. The pickup did not stop and continued south on Hearne Avenue.

The fire department used three medic units to transport five passengers from the bus, four to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) and one to Christus Schumpert Medical Center, all complaining of various soft-tissue injuries. Paramedics listed those injuries as minor. The second accident occurred a short time later at 12:00 noon at the intersection of Freestate Boulevard and Grimmett Drive. The accident occurred when Kateena Brown, driving west on Freestate in a late model Ford Escort, failed to yield at the intersection and hit a Chevrolet Capri traveling south on Grimmett. Both vehicles sustained heavy front end damage, with the Capri crashing into a steel street pole before coming to rest.

The driver of the Capri, 23 year old Ivory Smith and her sister, Vicki Smith, riding in the passenger seat, were treated and transported to LSUHSC. The fire department needed the Jaws of Life in order to free Brown’s passenger, Alvesta Evans, 78, who was then transported to Willis Knighton Medical Center complaining of chest pain. Shreveport Police issued Brown tickets for failure to yield and no proof of insurance. ###