Car Crash Ends With Church Burning Down

(Memphis) The search is on for a driver that caused an accident which led to a church fire Tuesday night in South Memphis.

According to witnesses a driver in a truck struck a utility pole along Ketchum Tuesday night.

The pole fell into the roadway, but caused live wires to fall on the roof of Gateway Church of God in Christ.

A fire began in the attic of the church and spread quickly from the sanctuary to the fellowship hall.

“Most of your churches have an open area in the attic and the advancement of the fire is quick in that area,” said Lt. Wayne Cooke with the Memphis Fire Department.

Cooke said the two-alarm fire required more than 100 firefighters to control, “Initially we made a quick aggressive attack on the interior of the structure, but because of the quick advancement of this fire into the attic area, we brought our firefighters out and went defensive.”

There were several church members inside when the flames began for choir practice.

However they were able to make it out okay.

Witnesses saw the driver of the truck drive away a short time after the accident.

“I saw him make a turn in the street, but I didn’t see who was driving the truck, but it was a truck that hit it,” said Eric Jones who lives across the street from the church.

Memphis Police are investigating.

So far, there have been no arrests.

Nearly 1000 MLGW customers in South Memphis were without power due to the accident.

Crews worked to restore power before daybreak Wednesday.