Media

Accident Prone Highways To Be The Target of Joint Law Enforcement Effort

Release Date: December 3, 2003

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is joining forces with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department and Millington Police Department in an effort to curb vehicle crashes on Highway 51, State Route 14 and Interstate 40 in East Shelby County.

“It's vital we scrutinize vehicle crash trends and post officers at these locations . We want to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on these roads, especially during the holiday season,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Jr.

“We've already had close to the same number of traffic fatalities on these roadways as this same time last year. Our efforts will send a clear message to drivers to slow down,” said Captain Joe Nunn with the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

2002 Statistics indicate there were 136 crashes on the targeted roadways: six people were killed and 57 injured. So far in 2003, there have been 116 crashes, five persons killed, and 55 people have been injured.

2002 Crash Statistics Detail

• US 51:
  • Fatal: 1
  • Injuries: 13
  • Property Damage: 38
• SR 014:
  • Fatal: 3
  • Injuries: 25
  • Property Damage: 47
• I-40:
  • Fatal: 2
  • Injuries: 19
  • Property Damage:

2003 Crash Statistics Detail

• US 51:
  • Fatal: 0
  • Injuries: 16
  • Property Damage: 26
• SR 014:
  • Fatal: 2
  • Injuries: 18
  • Property Damage: 43
• I-40:
  • Fatal: 3
  • Injuries: 21
  • Property Damage: 47

(Statistics for 2003 are not complete; last date of crash reports in file is November 16, 2003)

Traffic studies done in 1995 and 2002 show increased traffic on the targeted roadways as a result of new residential and commercial development in North Shelby County and Tipton County.

Highway 51-between West Union and Wilkinsville Road

• 1995 - 25,419 vehicles
• 2002 - 26,100 vehicles

State Route 14-between Pleasant Ridge and Millington-Arlington Road

• 1995 - 9,556 vehicles
• 2002 - 12,696 vehicles

Interstate 40-between Highway 64 and Canada Road in Lakeland

• 1995 - 38,820 vehicles
• 2002 - 44,390 vehicles

While the enforcement effort primarily involves stretches of roadways in the unincorporated areas of Shelby County, the Memphis Police Department and the Millington Police Department will be also watching for violators.

“Motorists using Highway 51 as it enters Memphis will be monitored by our officers. Speed has no jurisdictional boundaries. We're here to support the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Sheriff's Office,” said Memphis Police Director James Bolden.

“Millington has seen a tremendous surge of traffic along Highway 51 as it runs through our city. This law enforcement partnership to focus on traffic violations will help us keep our city safe,” said Millington Police Chief William Howard.

Officers with the Traffic, D. U. I. and Motorcycle Units will be joined by Reserve Sheriff's Deputies will be patrolling Highway 51, State Route 14 and Interstate 40 to strictly enforce speed limits.

A news conference involving the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department and the Millington Police Department will be held on Friday, December 5, 2003, 9:00 a. m., 201 Poplar, 9th Floor in the Shelby County Sheriff's Office Administration Conference Room.