By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—New details have been released about an accident last Thursday morning in which a Paris Firefighter was injured. According to a witness, the man who was arrested in the incident, John C. Rowlette, age 48, of 4420 Shady Grove Rd., Paris, had been involved in a road rage incident a short while before.
Rowlette was arrested on charges of DUI, reckless endangerment, and simple possession following the accident.
Firefighter Lt. Johnny Henderson, age 48, was injured in the accident which occurred near Arrowhead Home Sales on E. Wood St. when his truck was struck by a Ford Mustang driven by Rowlette. Henderson was trapped inside his vehicle and the Paris Fire Department removed him from his truck with the Jaws of Life.
Henderson was transported to the Henry County Medical Center and was released following treatment.
According to the police report, Paris Police Cpl. Amanda Forrest arrived on the scene and was advised by witnesses that Rowlette appeared to be under the influence and had placed a bottle of alcohol behind the seat.
While working the accident, she made contact with Rowlette who said he had taken some ‘shots’ before driving into town because he had medical problems and pain and had run out of pain medication. According to the report, Rowlette told Forrest he did not think he could perform the field sobriety tests and he refused to give a blood sample.
When asked multiple times how the accident occurred, Rowlette said he was on the way to a doctor’s appointment, on the way to his wife’s place of employment and then said he wasn’t sure what happened.
According to Forrest’s report, after speaking with a witness, it was determined that Rowlette was upset because of a road rage incident earlier. A car had stopped at the red light at the intersection of Hwys. 218 and 79 and Rowlette was upset at the car in front of him, sped by the car in the turning lane, eventually losing control, spinning out and ending up on the opposite lane.
A search of his vehicle found a small container with three pills, one of which was Hydrocodone and the others Focalin.
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