ARLINGTON, TN (abc24.com) - Two people were seriously injured after a freak accident in Arlington. A big-rig hauling Christmas items set to be delivered to a local Wal-Mart slammed into a convenience store nearly killing the customers inside.
"You live every day and you never know what's in front of you," Rick Ricks told abc24.com.
Thanksgiving has a whole new meaning Ricks.
"You know, what made me stop at this gas station? I don't know,” said Ricks.
Ricks certainly has reason to be thankful after coming within feet of being hit by a big-rig.
"The good lord was certainly looking after me,” Ricks told abc24.com.
Ricks was heading to Carrollton, Mississippi when he stopped to fill up at this gas station on Airline road, just off I-40 in Arlington. As soon as he hopped out of his SUV the tractor-trailer came barreling past, literally smashing through the gas station convenience store.
"No one was killed in this situation which is an act of God in and of it self as far as I'm concerned,” said Chip Washington, spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
The male driver along with a female passenger were both taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Investigators are trying to determine exactly what happened. The truck apparently left I-40 at exit 25 and shot right up the westbound exit before crashing into the Shell station. It's unclear how that driver lost control. Investigators are trying to determine if he had a medical issue or if the truck had some sort of malfunction.
"You can see that he was within 2 to 3 feel of a gas pump, so this could have been an extraordinarily serious situation," Washington told abc24.com.
Ricks is simply relieved he's still here to give thanks this holiday.
"I'll be happy and giving thanks for just my luck I guess,” said Ricks.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into what happened. That truck was hauling cell phones, potpourri and a number of other Christmas items.
