Thursday, January 7, 2010

Chattanooga, TN: Woman Suffers Dragging Death On Cummings Highway

posted January 7, 2010

Chattanooga Police said a woman who tried to cling to the tailgate of her boyfriend's pickup truck in Lookout Valley on Wednesday night was eventually run over and killed by the vehicle.

Police said the call of a pedestrian struck at 3222 Cummings Highway led to the discovery of the body of the 27-year-old woman.

Officers were called to the scene just before 9 p.m. after witnesses said they saw a pickup truck dragging a person down Cummings Highway. Investigators working the case said the woman was drug by her boyfriend, 36-year-old John Thomas White, following an argument at Critter’s Bar located in the 2800 block of Cummings Highway.

According to statements taken from witnesses at Critter’s, White came into the bar sometime after 8:30 p.m. to get the victim. As he got up to leave, the victim followed and attempted to get into the back of White’s truck. As she was doing so, White drove off with the victim clinging to the tailgate of the truck.

After trying to hold on for more than a mile, the victim lost hold, fell, and was run over by the rear of the vehicle. White then drove to his residence at 20 West End Ave. where he argued with his sister, Gail White, about the incident involving his girlfriend. As Gail White attempted to leave his home and check on the victim, she lost control of her vehicle at 18 West End Ave. and flipped her car into a culvert.

Gail White was taken to Erlanger Hospital for injuries sustained in her accident. Her current condition is unknown.

John Thomas White was arrested for the dragging death of his girlfriend and charged with criminal homicide. More charges are pending further investigation.

The victim’s name will not be released until next of kin can be notified.

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