Driver charged in fatal wrong-way accident and charged with manslaughter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – A driver charged in Thursday night's fatal wrong-way crash in Murfreesboro is now charged with vehicular homicide, according to Murfreesboro police.

Lora Allison Tenpenny, 23, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and drunken driving after a Murfreesboro man was killed in a wrong-way crash on South Church Street.

The accident occurred just before 7:30 p.m. on S. Church Street and resulted in all lanes of the road being closed for several hours.

Police said Tenpenny was driving a Jeep southbound in the northbound lane of S. Church Street when she crashed head-on into a BMW. Tenpenny's Jeep was thrown on its side.

The driver of the BMW, a 28-year-old man from Murfreesboro, was killed in the accident. Tenpenny and her 22-year-old passenger were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, MPD said.

MPD said a Williamson County deputy witnessed the crash and called 911. Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department Safety Officer/Paramedic Captain Karl Daigle also stopped after seeing the wreckage.

The couple pulled the BMW driver from his vehicle and began CPR. According to MPD, emergency responders took over the work as soon as they arrived on scene.

Tenpenny was released from the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center after posting $72,000 bond.

“She has a hearing in Rutherford County General Sessions Court on November 19th,” MPD said.

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