WRONG WAY DRIVER CRASH KILLS EIGHT YEAR OLD GIRL IN PUTNAM COUNTY

new-generic-police-lights-1An 8-year-old girl was killed and three others were hurt after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 40 West in Putnam County of Friday night.

Crews were called to mile marker 294 near Cookeville after a Dodge Challenger driving west in an eastbound lane collided head on with Toyota Corolla carrying three people around 9 p.m. Friday, according to a preliminary Tennessee Highway Patrol report.

According to officials, Eight-year-old Vera Patel of Dechard (other sources indicate the family was from Monterey) was killed after the crash, the report said.

Bhadresh Patel, 43,  and Mina Patel, 38 were also in the Corolla and taken to a local hospital with injuries.

The driver of the Challenger, Rose Ellen Kelly, 61, of Clarksville, Texas, was also hurt. The THP report said drugs were found in her system in the time of the crash.

Criminal charges were pending in the case, the THP said.