Media

Off-Duty Officer and Teenager Die In North Shelby County Traffic Crash

Release Date: December 8, 2006

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Traffic deputies say an off-duty Memphis Police Lieutenant who worked on the evening shift with the Felony Response Unit and a Millington High School teenager died in a traffic crash near Millington this afternoon.  Deputies say the crash happened about 2:15 not long after Christopher Nelson had left Millington High School.

Investigators say Nelson, 17, was driving a1993 Toyota Corolla southbound on Old Millington Road when he lost control of the car and slid sideways into the path of another vehicle just north of Ward Road. Deputies say a1999 Mazda Protégé driven by Connie Maness, 41, collided with the teenager’s car on the passenger side.

Ms. Maness lived on Ward Road less than a mile from the crash scene.  The teenager lived on Benjestown Road in North Shelby County near Frayser.

Both victims were alone in their vehicles and were taken by helicopter to the Regional Medical Center.  They died a short time later. Traffic investigators say Nelson was wearing his seatbelt but Ms. Maness was not. 

Officers say the teenager was apparently speeding at the time of the crash.  Deputies do not believe alcohol was involved.

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