Police ID teen killed in car, tractor crash

Metro Police identified the teenager killed Tuesday afternoon in a car-tractor collision as Jessica Burkhart, 13, of Chattanooga.

Burkhart was one of four passengers in a Dodge Stratus being driven by Jonathan Flippo, 18, of Rossville, Ga., that crashed into a tractor mowing on the side of the road.

The incident occurred at 2:25 p.m. Tuesday in the 3400 block of Lebanon Pike near the Central Pike intersection between Old Hickory Boulevard and Stewarts Ferry Pike.

Flippo told police a blue Nissan Maxima cut him off causing him to swerve into the shoulder of the roadway and hit the tractor. The presence of the blue Nissan has not been confirmed.

Police say Flippo fled the crash scene to a nearby apartment complex. His reason for doing so has not been established, according to police.

Flippo, along with passengers Nicholas Scarbrough, 18, and Tonya Jones, 17, were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

No charges have been filed, but the investigation into the crash continues.