Concerns Rise Over Dangerous Road Conditions in South Memphis
Memphis, TN – Do you ever worry about the roads while driving around town? Well, a Mid-South mother shared a jaw-dropping story about her recent experience on South Parkway that might just make you think twice about driving in that area, especially at night!
Jessie Quick was navigating the winding roads with her children when things took a terrifying turn. Traveling East on South Parkway, she suddenly lost track of the curve ahead, jumped the curb, and encountered an *open manhole*, leaving her in shock. โOh, my God. Oh, my God. What did I hear? What happened?โ she exclaimed, recalling the frightful moment. Jessie didnโt spot any road signs indicating the sudden curve, and the dim lighting in the area didnโt help either.
To make matters worse, Jessie had the misfortune of hitting that *uncovered manhole*, which caused *severe damage* to her vehicle, leaving her with three blown tires! โI had no idea that the road stopped,โ Jessie shared, shaking her head. โIt was incredibly frightening. My kids started screaming and crying.โ Once she got out of her car to assess the situation, she met another driver who had faced the same fate, just moments before her!
Unfortunately, Jessie discovered that she wasn’t alone in her struggle with this particular curve. In a short span of thirty minutes, two more drivers found themselves in the same predicament, and Jessie was quick to capture footage of their accidents. โI hope that they put up signs, barriers, those big orange barrels or perhaps better signage,โ she said with a passionate plea. She believes that a guardrail might even be a safer option, stating that driving into a guardrail is better than risking flying over an uncovered manhole.
Jessie took to Google for some answers and found out that this area has had the same road signs in place for over a year. Frustrated, she hopes the City of Memphis will step up and reimburse her and other drivers affected by these accidents. โOne of my children is a St. Jude patient with health problems, so itโs just one more added stress to the current things that I have going on,โ she expressed.
City Response and Safety Measures
In response to Jessieโs concerns, the city quickly got in touch with a spokesperson from the local government. They mentioned that the barricade crews had taken a look at the uncovered manhole over the weekend, confirming it belongs to MLGW (Memphis Light, Gas and Water). Thankfully, barricade crews responded promptly, securing and covering the hazardous manhole.
MLGW acknowledged the issues as well, letting Jessie’s family and others know that maintenance crews were en route to ensure the manhole is covered properly. But for drivers in this area, the question still looms large: what can be done to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future?
Community Recommendations
Itโs clear that community feedback is essential in creating safer streets. Many locals echo Jessieโs call for increased signage, better lighting, and protective barriers. Public safety always tops the list of community concerns, and itโs evident that road conditions must improve to keep drivers and their passengers safe.
As Jessie said, โLetโs hope the City of Memphis takes actionโ to address these ongoing issues before anyone else has to face a harrowing experience like hers. It might be time to rally together and push for change in our neighborhoods as we work towards safer roadways for everyone.
Author: STAFF HERE MEMPHIS WRITER
The MEMPHIS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMemphis.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Memphis, Shelby County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the areaโwith deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Beale Street Music Festival, Elvis Week, and Memphis in May International Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and music that power the local economy such as FedEx, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and AutoZone. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREKnoxville.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
