Deadly crashes in Memphis during July 4th travel surge

Two fatal car accidents occurred in East Memphis and Nutbush overnight, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The American Automobile Association projects that the Fourth of July weekend will see a record number of travelers, with over 72 million Americans expected to journey at least 50 miles away from home. Of these travelers, more than 61 million are anticipated to use cars as their mode of transportation. It is important to note that with the increased number of drivers on the road, there is a higher likelihood of accidents occurring. Just ahead of the holiday weekend, there were already unfortunate incidents on Memphis roads during the night. Police responded to two deadly collisions in quick succession. In one incident, a driver disregarded a red traffic light and crashed into another vehicle. The first event took place shortly after 10 pm at East Mallory and Watson Street in East Memphis, where a male victim on a go-kart was fatally struck by a silver 2006 Chevy Malibu; the driver of the Malibu fled the scene. Additionally, another car accident occurred on Jackson Avenue at Wales Avenue, reported before 1 a.m., involving two vehicles. One driver ran a red light and collided with an oncoming vehicle that was making a turn on a green light. One man died at the scene, while the other was hospitalized in critical condition but has since improved to a non-critical condition. Authorities are seeking information about the hit-and-run in East Memphis at Mallory and Watson - contact Crimestoppers at 528-CASH if you have any relevant details.