Woman killed in balcony fall and other news from areas around Chattanooga

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Regency Towers in Panama City Beach, FL

Woman killed in balcony fall

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - A 22-year-old McMinn-ville, Tenn., woman died Thursday when she fell from a 10th-floor balcony of a Panama City Beach condominium.

The News Herald of Panama City reported Bay County sheriff's deputies found the woman dead when they responded to a 911 call at Regency Towers on Thursday afternoon.

Authorities haven't released the woman's name, but they said she was visiting Panama City Beach from McMinnville.

No foul play is suspected, and the body has been turned over to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

No further details were immediately available.


photo Dr. Deborah Murray

Lee names Murray to academic post

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Lee University has named Dr. Deborah Murray its vice president for academic affairs, according to a news release.

Murray, who joined the Lee faculty in 1980, has served in the Helen DeVos College of Education for more than 30 years. A distinguished professor of education, she has been dean and chairwoman of that department, director of teacher education programs and director of graduate programs in education.

As vice president she replaces Dr. Carolyn Dirksen, who now serves the university as director of faculty development.

Murray's position is one of seven vice presidential posts under Lee president Dr. Paul Conn.


Man badly burned in gas pump fire

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Police in Clarksville say a car charged onto a convenience store lot, setting off a fire when it struck a gasoline pump. A man walking across the lot was badly burned.

The Leaf-Chronicle reported the victim was able to avoid being struck Thursday morning but was engulfed by flames.

Ray Williams of the Clarksville Fire Department called the burns severe and life-threatening. The man was burned over 40 percent of his body with third-degree injuries.

The victim was taken to Gateway Hospital and later transferred to the burn unit at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville. His name was not released.


Pileup closes interstate lanes

ATLANTA - Authorities reopened part of Interstate 75 in metro Atlanta on Friday after an accident involving seven cars and a pedestrian shut down all southbound lanes for most of the morning rush hour.

Clayton County police spokeswoman Officer Danielle Rosa told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that five of the drivers in the accident had been charged with drunken driving.

The accident happened in the area of C.W. Grant Parkway and Central Avenue.

Rosa said the pedestrian started walking into the interstate, which caused the seven-car pileup.