The Commercial Appeal - www.gomemphis.com (C) 2004

The region in brief
January 3, 2004


METRO
Off-duty firefighter dies after vehicle rams an Exline's


An off-duty Memphis firefighter was killed after the truck he was driving plowed into a Raleigh restaurant Friday morning.

Lt. Bennie J. Shields, 54, was taken to Methodist Healthcare-North about 7 a.m. He died shortly afterward, officials said.

Shields was traveling east on James Road when his 2001 Ford pickup crossed into the west lane and hit a 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage.

The truck then crashed into the Exline's Best Pizza in Town at Austin Peay and Stage.

Officials would not comment on why Shields lost control of his vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital and was in noncritical condition Friday.

Friday marked Shields's 31st anniversary as a Memphis firefighter.

The truck's impact severely damaged the cinder block building; no one was inside at the time.

The 31-year-old restaurant will be closed for repairs.

- Sherri Drake