Angie Meadows photo

One person was airlifted and one was charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident in this Sunday afternoon collision on Short Mountain Highway. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 56-year-old Kenny Wright was traveling north on Highway 146 in a 2000 GMC Jimmy, pulling two riding mowers on a utility trailer, when a southbound 1992 Chevy truck driven by Melissa Petty crossed the center line and entered Wright’s lane of travel. Wright reportedly swerved in an attempt to prevent the crash, but Petty’s truck connected with Wright’s trailer. The Jimmy left the roadway and overturned in the ditchline. Petty reportedly drove nearly 10 miles after the collision, even though her truck had suffered substantial damage, including an inoperative left front wheel. The woman allegedly turned from Short Mountain Highway onto Patterson Road, then to Jacobs Pillar Road and Banks Pisgah Road before coming to a stop on Halfacre/Joines Road, where a sheriff’s department deputy found her. Wright’s wife, 51-year-old Kathy Wright, and Daniel Niles were passengers in Wright’s vehicle. Kathy Wright wife was treated by DeKalb EMS at the scene and then airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center with unknown injuries. No one else was seriously hurt in the wreck. Petty faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident with injury, and reckless driving. She issued citations for failure to exercise due care, no insurance, and expired registratio