WMC-TV 5 - Memphis, TNMan accidentally backs truck over Mid-South woman

Man accidentally backs truck over Mid-South woman

By Kontji Anthony - bio | email

MILLINGTON, TN (WMC-TV) -  A Tipton County woman died Saturday after a man she was with backed over her with his pickup during a drunken disagreement.

Monday, Millington Police Chief Ray Douglas described the bizarre tragedy that unraveled after James Robison and Rachel Morin drove home early Saturday morning from a night of bar hopping in south Tipton County.

"He said both of them were singing to a song on the radio and all of a sudden she yelled 'stop' and he stopped and she said something about 'that damn song' and 'you danced with her at the club,'" Douglas said.

So, at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Robison stopped his Ford F-350 pickup in Millington along a curve on Wilkinsville Road, just south of Walker.

"And she got out and took off running," Douglas said.

Robison told Douglas he threw his pickup into reverse to find out what was wrong.

"He said, 'I veered away from the curb.  That's the last time I saw her running down the curb.  I veered away towards the middle,'" Douglas said.

That's when the trouble turned into travesty.

"(He) felt a thump and a bump bump and figured he'd run over her," Douglas said.

A passerby flagged down police after seeing Robison crouched over Morin on the road.  When police arrived, a staggering Robison made a remorseful confession, slurring, "I think I killed her."

Robison told police he didn't know how fast he was driving.

"Admittedly, they were both drinking that night," Douglas said.

And, there's a dark twist to this tale: Morin's brother, Jason, was shot to death at Cactus Jacks in March.

"It's another blow to the family," Douglas said.

Police seized Robison's pickup and released him on his own recognizance. The Shelby County Medical Examiner is checking his blood-alcohol level and conducting an autopsy on Morin.

"Once the investigation is complete, we'll  place the appropriate charges," Douglas said.

Police don't believe Robison intentionally killed Morin.

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