Chain of Events Destroys Business, Claims a Life

White House, TN
Stacy Case

  A freak accident in White House claims a life and a business.  It involved a car wreck, a gas leak and an out of control fire. Tonight, two families are trying to figure out where to turn now.  The light of day brings an ugly reality.  A big black hole where the roof once was.  This antique store --- a total loss.  33 year old Chris Leggett ---  dead. 

   Constance Luttrell, his sister says, "Was going into White House to get something to eat.  They think he had a heart attack or brain aneurysm.   I'll have to console my mom.. that was her only son."

  Authorities say that may explain why the White House man drove his truck straight through an intersection, plowing into this antique store,  rupturing a gas line in the process.   White House Fire Chief  Joe Palmer explains, "Where it had struck the building there was where the gas meter entered the building, ruptured the line intensified the fire."
 
   The owners of the antique store stood outside the burned out business they opened a little over 5 years ago, taking it all in.  Though they didn't want to talk about the accident,  neighboring businessman, Dale Biggs with Bigg's Automotive  did, "He has worked hard taking care of things and for something like this to happen is really really bad."

    Though these tire tracks show the path that lead to so much destruction,  Chris Leggett's family is holding on to the promise of brighter days ahead.  

  Through tears, his sister says, " With God we'll get through it. The only thing anybody can do is pray for my mom and dad and my little girl. We know he's in heaven now. "

   Authorities estimate the driver was going 70 miles per hour when he hit the business.
   

White House Fire & Wreck