Tarpley Airlifted After Thursday Crash

December 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

An elderly man was airlifted after a two car crash Thursday at the intersection of Highways 70 and 96 in Liberty.

78 year old Edward Tarpley of Alexandria was transported from the scene by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone at DeKalb West School. He was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital.

According to Trooper Chris Meness of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tarpley was driving north on Highway 96 in a 2017 Nissan Altima when he failed to stop at the intersection and struck a 2013 Infinity, driven by 28 year old Cody Tennyson of Murfreesboro who was east on Highway 70. After impact, the Altima came to rest in the intersection while the Infinity went off the side of Highway 70 into the grass facing east.

Tennyson was not seriously injured but he was taken to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital by DeKalb EMS.

Trooper Meness said Tennyson was cited for registration violation due to expired tags. Charges are pending against Tarpley.

Three other people were involved in a separate wreck on Thursday at the intersection of Highway 146 and Tabernacle Road.

Trooper Meness said 64 year old Carl Fenton of Michigan was traveling north on Highway 146 in a 2005 Dodge pickup and was trying to turn left onto Tabernacle Road when the truck was hit by a 2012 Chevy Malibu, driven by 20 year old Maci Arnold who was south on Highway 146. According to Trooper Meness, Arnold swerved and applied her brakes trying to avoid the collision.

Fenton was not injured and neither was his wife 59 year old Patricia Fenton, who was a passenger with him. Arnold, was treated at the scene by EMS for a minor burn from her airbag deployment. She was also cited for not wearing her seatbelt.

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