January 16, 2015 - A three vehicle crash occurred on Tenaha Street near the intersection of Malone Street at 3:40pm on Thursday afternoon causing northbound traffic to have to detour onto Childs Street and behind the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library.
According to Center Police Department Officer Maegan Wright, a white Hyundai Tucson driven by Charles Whitaker, age 40, of Louisiana, was northbound on Tenaha Street when it stopped to make a left turn into a private parking lot. A gray Infiniti 4-door sedan driven by Mark Lewis, age 25, of Center, was also traveling northbound on Tenaha Street. Lewis attempted to steer the car to the right to avoid rear ending the Hyundai but failed and struck the rear passenger side of the stopped vehicle with its front driver side. Upon impact the Hyundai spun around and struck a G.M.C. pickup truck traveling south on Tenaha Street as it passed by the crash.
Only receiving minor damage, the G.M.C., driven by Jasa Rodgers, age 17, of Center with one passenger, pulled off the roadway into a private parking lot. The Hyundai came to rest in the middle of the roadway facing south with damage to its rear passenger side and its front passenger side. The Infiniti came to rest on the shoulder racing north.
ACE EMS responded and no injuries requiring emergency medical transport from the scene were reported. Whitaker was taken by private vehicle for medical examination. The Infiniti and Hyundai had to be towed from the scene. No citation information is known at this time and the crash is under investigation by Officer Maegan Wright. Assisting at the scene with traffic control was Officer John Welch.
