Woman killed in accident at gas station

Area News

Related Photos

Gary Nelson

November 25, 2009

By Gary Nelson / gnelson@crossville-chronicle.com The Crossville Chronicle Wed Nov 25, 2009, 02:00 PM CST

Anna Hart was a regular customer at the Genesis Quick Stop Shell gas station.

"She usually came in at least once a week or more and would buy gas and sometimes candy," said Lisa Wyatt, manager of the gas station.

Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, Hart, 71, of Crossville was killed in what Wyatt and emergency response officials called a "freak, tragic accident."

"It's something I will never forget as long as I live," Wyatt said.

Hart stopped at the gas station, went in and paid for her gas and returned to her vehicle.

According to the Crossville Police report, surveillance video at the gas station showed Hart approach her vehicle and stand in the door.

"She reaches in and the vehicle moves backwards. The vehicle then moves forward and Ms. Hart becomes trapped in the door. The door was driven into the pump's guardrail..." the report states.

The report further states Hart loses her footing and falls and when the door hits the pump's guardrail the door crushes crushes Hart to the bottom of the chassis in between the driver's door and the cab of her vehicle.

A few minutes later a customer came into the store and alerted Wyatt and another clerk working at the station that a woman was hanging from her vehicle.

Wyatt said she called 911 for help. The vehicle was still running and there wasn't anything she could do because the woman was pinned in the door so tightly.

"I touched her and didn't get a response and then I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn't," Wyatt said.

Crossville Police Assistant Chief Darrell Sherrill said some of Hart's family members happened to be passing by the gas station and discovered it was Hart.

Wednesday morning Wyatt was still shaken by the incident.

"I never would have thought anything like this would happen here. We're all still in shock," she said.

Although the accident occurred just before 10 a.m., Wyatt stayed at the station until almost 4 p.m. and finished her shift.

"I wanted to try and keep my mind off it. I know if I went home all I would have done is sit there and think about it all day and night," Wyatt said.

Emergency responders and police officials pronounced Hart dead on the scene. It took emergency workers nearly thirty minutes to remove the woman's body from in between the vehicle's door and door jam. In order to do so the woman's vehicle had to be pulled sideways away from the concrete barrier and pole.

The gas station was roped off and secured by emergency responders and was closed during the incident.

Personnel from the Crossville Fire Department, Cumberland County Sheriff's Department and Crossville Police Department responded to the scene.

Text Only

Area News

Satsuma Dr. annexation on council agenda
The Crossville City Council will discuss an annexation and abutment project for 29 parcels of property on Satsuma Dr. when it meets today at 4 p.m.

February 14, 2012
Early voting period begins Wednesday
February 14, 2012
Looking Back
A weekly historical news feature.

February 14, 2012
Chronicle honored by ACS with media excellence award
The American Cancer Society is pleased to announce that the Crossville Chronicle has been recognized with the Lighthouse Award for Media Excellence in Tennessee by the American Cancer Society’s Mid-South Division.

February 13, 2012 1 Photo
Snow delays county tourney
February 13, 2012 1 Photo
Home invasion under investigation
Cumberland County sheriff's investigators are looking for three Overton Couny men in connection with an alleged home invasion that took place Sunday night in the Mayland area, according to reports.

February 13, 2012
Information sought on killing of two bald eagles
Approximately one year ago, in February 2011, a mature bald eagle was shot and killed in Bledsoe County, about one mile east of the intersection of Hwy. 101 and Big Springs Gap Road. A few weeks later, about 30 miles away, a second mature bald eagle was shot and killed in Cumberland County, east of Crossville in Crab Orchard. The eagle was discovered near the Crab Orchard School adjacent to Main St., close to the Old Easley Swimming Hole.

February 13, 2012
County OKs advertising funds for gun show
County commissioners on the budget committee approved a $2,113 amendment to pay for advertising costs for the Cumberland County Gun and Knife Show.

February 11, 2012
CMC to launch community health study
Cumberland Medical Center, with collaboration from other local health professionals, is working on a road map to health for the people of Cumberland County, identifying public health needs, goals, objectives and priorities.

February 11, 2012
Synthetic drugs ordinance now in effect
The Crossville City Council unanimously approved the third and final reading of two ordinances designed to police the sale and consumption of synthetic marijuana, bath salts and other synthetic materials within the city of Crossville.

February 11, 2012
More Area News Headlines

Area News

Search Results

Related Photos

Woman killed in accident at gas station

Site Map

Contact Us