Woman charged with DUI after police say she ran over a firefighter’s body at crash site

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Authorities in Tennessee said two drivers are behind bars Monday night after they mowed through the scene of a motorcycle wreck that took the life of a firefighter.

According to arrest affidavits, the crash on I-240 near Getwell Road late Sunday night took the life of Gary White, a Memphis firefighter who served 27 years with the Memphis Fire Department.

Early Monday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed two vehicles were stopped after they drove through the crash scene, and the drivers of both vehicles were arrested.

The Memphis Police Department said White was riding his motorcycle westbound on I-240 when he hit the rear end of a Jeep, causing him to lose control and fall into oncoming traffic.

Police said several vehicles then struck White’s body after he fell. He was pronounced dead at the scene just before midnight Sunday.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation closed the interstate to allow for first responders to conduct an investigation into the crash and clear the scene.

Shortly after, and just minutes apart, arrest records allege a blue BMW driven by 46-year-old Marcia Davis and a silver Dodge Ram driven by 33-year-old Fabian Sanchez each ran through the cones and barreled through the scene of the investigation.

Davis’ affidavit said she ran over White’s corpse in the process.

Authorities said both drivers did eventually pull over for law enforcement.

Officers said the smell of alcohol was on each driver and each struggled to perform field sobriety tests.

Police also said they found a crushed Corona can lying in the driver’s side floorboard of Sanchez’s truck. He reportedly told them he was driving home from a “social function.”

The officer who pulled Davis over said she “seemingly forgot the events of our interaction, failing to recall running through a road blockage.” He also said she believed she was in Mississippi and not Tennessee.

While the officer was still filling out paperwork, Davis reportedly admitted she had been drinking wine earlier that night.

Officials said Davis was charged with DUI, abuse of a corpse, reckless endangerment with a motor vehicle, traveling on a closed roadway, reckless driving and civil disobedience.

They also said Sanchez was charged with DUI, open container violation, lack of registration and tampering with barricades.

Both Sanchez and Davis have their first court appearances set for Tuesday morning.

The Memphis Fire Association released a statement regarding White’s death.

“We’re saddened to learn of the death of Driver Gary White, who died in an off-duty traffic accident,” the statement reads. “Brother White had been with the Memphis Fire Department since March 1998. May his family both at home and the fire station be comforted during this difficult time.”