THP Investigating Tragic Mishap In Selmer

NASHVILLE, Tenn., — The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the tragic mishap in Selmer, Tennessee Saturday night that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries during a parade at the Cars for Kids charity event.

At the request of the Selmer Police Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol deployed investigators from the Critical Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T) to conduct a thorough and complete reconstruction of the crash.  Investigators with the THP Criminal Investigation Division and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are assisting crash scene investigators.

The crash occurred at approximately 6:30pm Saturday when one of the modified race cars veered into a crowd of spectators.  The driver of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) approved race car is identified as Troy Warren Critchley of Wylie, Texas.  Critchley suffered minor injuries in the crash and was transported by car to Hardeman County General Hospital.   At least five spectators have died from injuries suffered in the mishap.  Injured spectators were transported to five area hospitals in Tennessee—McNairy Regional Hospital in Selmer, the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Jackson General Hospital in Jackson, Magnolia Hospital in Corinth, Mississippi and Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.

Cars for Kids is a charitable organization that raises money for charities that benefit disabled children.  One of the annual fundraising events is a parade in Selmer, Tennessee.

The list of confirmed fatalities follows:

Raven Griswell, 15, Finger, TN                              died at scene
Sean Michael Driskill, 22, Adamsville, TN           died at scene
Brooke L. Pope, 20, Selmer, TN                            died at McNairy Regional Medical Center
Scarlett Replogle, 15, Selmer, TN                         died at McNairy Regional Medical Center
Kimberly A. Barfield, 17, Adamsville, TN              died at Jackson General Hospital
Nichole Griswell, 19, Selmer, TN                          died at Memphis Medical Center

The list of injured is as follows:

Vanderbilt Medical Center

Jason Mullins, 17, Stantonville, TN                            Jeannie Townsend, 27, Selmer, TN
Rodger Pitchford, 18, Bethel Springs, TN                 Ginny B. King, 15, Selmer, TN
Selina Kennedy, 15, Selmer, TN                                Shane Smith, 19, Selmer, TN

Jackson General Hospital

Brenda F. Taylor, 46, Selmer, TN
Aeriel K. Hickman, 15, Selmer, TN
Christopher Mettlen, 19, Selmer, TN
Codye J. Tomaszewski, 20, Selmer, TN
Michael Bishop, 20, Selmer, TN

Memphis Medical Center

Sheila Sisk, 36
Amy Driskill, 19

Magnolia Hospital, Corinth, Mississippi

Phillip Spence             (Never admitted)
Rouge-Jet Cloud          (Never admitted)

McNairy Regional Medical Center, Selmer, TN

Michael Smith, 43, Selmer, TN
Cindy Stevens, 17, Selmer, TN
Tiffany Stone, Michie, TN
Brandon Vanhoose, 5, Selmer, TN

If anyone has information about victims who have not been contacted by the THP, they are urged to call the Jackson District at 1-731-421-5035 or 1-800-736-3993 Ext. 1

If anyone has video or photographs, please contact the THP in Jackson, TN at 1-800-736-3993 Ext. 1

The Tennessee Department of Safety (www.tennessee.gov/safety) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public.  The department’s general areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education and motorist services including the issuance of driver licenses.  The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.