Three injured in four-vehicle accident
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, June 3, 2015
CHAIN-REACTION: The four-vehicle accident resulted in the Nissan Altima losing control and flipping upside-down. Driver Kayla Widner was assisted out of the vehicle and taken immediately to the hospital by ambulance. Photo by Ashley Collins.
Three people were taken to the hospital after a four-car accident occurred Monday evening on Hwy. 43.
Picayune police officers and emergency personnel responded to a call at around 5:32 p.m. regarding the four-vehicle crash on Hwy. 43 N. near Hwy. 11, Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
When they arrived, they found four damaged cars and three injured drivers who were immediately taken to Highland Community Hospital, Magri said.
Through their investigation, the Picayune Police Department determined a blue Nissan Altima was westbound on Hwy. 43 N. According to an eyewitness statement, the car lost control after driving onto the median, causing a chain-reaction.
The driver of the Altima was identified as 20-year-old Kayla Widner of 305 N. Lakeview Dr. in Lake Dallas, Texas.
After driving onto the median, Widner lost control of her vehicle causing the car to swerve back and forth on the westbound lane, Magri said. At that time, Widner’s car collided into a white Ford Focus driven by 45-year-old Rose Butler of 11660 Morrison Rd. in New Orleans, La. Due to the collision, Widner’s vehicle spun around and flipped over before striking a white Suzuki Reno driven by 34-year-old Glenda Woods of 2978 Country Rd. in Meridian, Miss. The impact of the collision sent the Suzuki into the back of a gray Acura TSX driven by 17-year-old Ethan Cain of 155 Independence Dr. in Bethalto, Ill., Magri said.
A Picayune police officer witnessed the accident as it occurred and responded immediately by assisting Widner out of her vehicle, Magri said.
The officer allegedly found Widner suspended upside-down in the driver’s seat by her seatbelt. The officer also noticed several lacerations on her body, Magri said.
The officer cut her free before she was transported to the hospital immediately following the arrival of ambulance personnel, Magri said.
Due to the nature of the accident, blood was drawn from Widner at the hospital. The blood sample will be sent to the crime lab for testing, Magri said.
Woods and Butler also suffered injuries and were taken to Highland Community Hospital. Their conditions remain unknown. Cain wasn’t transported to the hospital, Magri said.
