The man killed Friday at 10:20 a.m. in a four-vehicle collision on Briley Parkway near McGavock Pike is identified as John Joseph Kelly, 62, of Selden, New York.
Kelly was the front seat passenger in a northbound 2021 Kia Forte that had slowed or stopped in traffic when the Kia was rear ended by a 1997 Toyota 4Runner being driven by James Lester, 33, of Fairview.
The preliminary investigation shows that Lester was driving his 4Runner northbound on Briley Parkway and approaching McGavock Pike when the vehicle in front of him changed lanes. Lester then saw that traffic in front of him had come to a standstill but he was unable to avoid colliding with the Kia. The impact pushed the Kia into the far left emergency lane where it struck a Chevrolet Sonic in the rear driver’s side bumper and a Subaru Forester in the driver’s side rear quarter panel. The collision caused the Toyota 4Runner to roll over prior to coming to a stop in the middle of Briley Parkway. Lester was not injured.
The driver of the Kia, Shariann Kelly, 64, of Selden, New York, was transported to Skyline Medical Center where she is in critical but stable condition. No one else involved in the collision was injured.
There was no evidence of alcohol/drug involvement at the scene.
The preliminary contributing factor to this crash appears to be improper following on the part of Lester.
