Tornadoes Kill 3 in Tennessee and Kentucky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tornadoes cut a swath across parts of western and central Tennessee on Friday, killing at least three people, injuring scores more and flattening houses, authorities said.

At least four tornadoes touched down and between 15 and 18 were reported in the state, authorities said.

A man was crushed between two cars in an auto lot in Selmer, 80 miles east of Memphis, when a tornado swept across Highway 45 in the McNairy County town, Sheriff Eric O. Bell of neighboring Chester County said. The victim apparently was a customer at the lot, Bell said.

At least 30 people were treated at the hospital in Selmer, and dozens more were transported to hospitals outside the county, Bell said.

“There’s total devastation,” Bell said. “There are torn-down buildings and wiped-out car lots with the cars all jumbled around. It’s terrible. Everybody was trying to find their people.

“Where it crossed Highway 45, there was a residential area,” he said. “It was impossible to go in there, except on foot.”

An infant was reported killed in Lewis County, about 70 miles northeast of Selmer.

In western Kentucky, an 11-year-old boy was killed in Olmstead, a town of 90 people about 30 miles southwest of Bowling Green, authorities said.

Logan County Deputy Coroner Dale Shields identified the victim as Timmy Shoemake, who was visiting his grandparents when their mobile home was picked up and slammed against a tree.

Mark Watts, of the McNairy County civil defense agency, said power lines were down all over the county and residents probably would be without electricity until today.