Answers Sought in Fatal Parking Garage Accident

We tend to think of serious and even fatal car accidents as somehow being confined to the seemingly endless road and highway systems crisscrossing both the state and the nation. While this is true for the most part, it’s important to understand that accidents can and do occur in other locations, including driveways, parking lots, and, of course, parking garages.

Unfortunately, a parking garage right here in Tennessee was recently the site of a rather tragic accident that took the life of one person and left authorities with more questions than answers.

According to reports, a 60-year-old woman who worked in the University of Tennessee’s College of Law Library in Knoxville for over three decades arrived at work at her usual time this past Monday morning. Specifically, at a little before 6 a.m., she entered the UT’s White Avenue garage to park her Toyota Prius before heading inside to work.

While authorities are still trying to piece together what exactly happened next, they believe that the woman pulled into a parking spot and exited the car, believing that the transmission was in park. However, the transmission was actually in neutral and the car slowly began to roll backwards down the sloping surface of the parking garage.

Tragically, the woman was run over by her own vehicle as she was presumably attempting to get inside to apply the brake. As if this wasn’t horrific enough, the rolling car somehow managed to trap her against the concrete wall of the parking garage.

The fatal single-car accident was soon discovered by UT officials once the woman’s co-workers began making phone calls when she failed to turn up to work on time.

As stated earlier, many questions remain unanswered concerning this accident. Did the gear somehow manage to slip from park to neutral? Was the structure of the parking garage in compliance with the applicable code?

Stay tuned for updates …

If you have been seriously injured in a car accident or believe that wrongful death of a loved one can perhaps be attributed to the negligence of a property owner, remember that you may be able to hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions. An experienced legal professional can advise you of your rights and explore your options.

Source: The Knoxville News Sentinel, “Maryville woman identified in garage fatality caused by rolling car,” Feb. 24, 2014

Brack Terry

Attorney F. Braxton “Brack” Terry has the legal skill, integrity, and trial experience to offer a high level of professional services to all of our East Tennessee clients. He strongly believes in the importance of strengthening and preserving civil advocacy throughout Tennessee’s legal community.