By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Paris Patrolman who was seriously injured in a New Year’s Eve collision is now listed in stable condition at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
As we reported Monday morning, Jacob Howington, age 29, was badly injured when a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper collided with Howington’s patrol car. Howington was first taken to Henry County Medical Center by EMS and then airlifted to Vanderbilt with several injuries including broken ribs and a possible punctured lung.
A spokeswoman for Vanderbilt said this morning that Howington is in the trauma unit at the hospital.
THP Lt. Brad Wilbanks has released the accident report of the collision to WENK/WTPR. The THP’s Critical Incident Response Team was called to the scene of the accident.
According to the THP report, both Howington and THP Trooper Garrett Flannery, age 31, of McKenzie, were traveling northbound on E. Wood Street near the Volunteer Driver intersection when Howington began a U-turn. As his vehicle crossed Flannery’s travel lane, Flannery struck Howington in the driver’s side door.
Both the patrol car and THP vehicle were 2017 Explorers and both were totalled in the accident.
Paris Police Chief Chuck Elizondo told us Monday morning that Howington had spotted a traffic violator and was trying to follow that vehicle when the accident happened.
According to the THP report, Trooper Flannery was treated and released from Henry County Medical Center.
