Engineers Inspect American Way Building Damage

Engineers will examine the American Way Real Estate building in Cookeville this afternoon after a woman drove through the back wall Sunday morning.

American Way Co-owner Jeff Jones said he received the call shortly after the incident happened.

“I mean it was just disappointment,” Jones said. “[I’m] in disbelief that someone came from the Walmart parking lot and through all the obstacles they did to get into the back of our building.”

According to the Cookeville Police report, 65-year-old Barbara Sparks said brake failure caused her to drive past a stop sign between the Walmart and American Way parking lots. Sparks sustained minor injuries and was transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center as a precaution while 60-year-old passenger Michael Jerad was uninjured.

Jones said he has not yet spoken with Sparks since the accident occurred.

“They were leaving with her in an ambulance when I got here yesterday and I did not get the opportunity to talk with her,” Jones said.

Jones said the offices of two agents were destroyed following the crash.

“I’m glad nobody was here. One of those agents was actually on her way to the office and followed the first police officer on the scene here,” Jones said. “I’m just glad nobody was here. If somebody had been in either one of those offices, they would have been killed.”

Jones said cleanup will resume Tuesday once engineers have inspected the structural integrity of the building.