WAYNE COUNTY, TENN.

Florence pair injured in wreck

Two Alabama residents were injured when the truck they were in crashed as they tried to elude deputies early Friday morning.

Wayne County Chief Deputy Gerald Baer identified the injured as Justin Ray Rich, 22, and Truly Darling, 16, both of Florence.

Baer said the wreck occurred on Tennessee 13, just north of the Alabama state line

"Deputies had spotted them driving on Pumping Station Road without their headlights on a short time earlier," Baer said. "When the deputy tried to stop them to see why their headlights were not on, they wouldn't stop."

Baer said the chase turned onto Tennessee 13 and headed south toward the state line.

"None of the vehicles ever got to a very high rate of speed, but for some reason, they would not stop the truck," Baer said. "Just before they got to the state line, for some reason the truck struck one of our patrol cars on the side and then ran into a ditch and flipped over into the parking lot of Chief's Barbecue." Baer said of the accident that occurred just after midnight Friday.

Both victims were flown from the scene. Rich, who was identified as the driver, was flown to Huntsville Hospital, while Darling was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital in

Nashville.

Baer said he was told Friday morning that both Rich and Darling sustained broken bones but were in stable condition.