MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People around Memphis are scared to drive on the interstate.
FOX 13 has covered too many interstate shootings, but when they involve children, it can be even more difficult.
Another interstate shooting occurred Tuesday, this time on Interstate 240 at Poplar Avenue in East Memphis, leaving three children and one adult injured.
All four suffered serious injuries, police said.
RELATED: 3 children, 1 adult seriously injured in shooting on I-240 in Poplar, police say
So far this year, police have reported 42 shootings on interstates across Memphis.
MPD said interstate shootings are down so far this year compared with about 58 during the same period in 2023, a decrease of about 31%.
MPD reported 121 shootings across the state in 2021, the highest number of any year.
There were 83 interstate shootings in Memphis in 2020, followed by 92 in 2022 and 102 in 2023, according to police reports.
Police told FOX 13 that many interstate shootings stem from road rage.
“Most of the time it’s road rage,” Memphis Police Lt. Robert Herring said, “little things like this can make things escalate and sometimes lives are lost.”
Tips offered by police to help drivers stay safe include:
- Please do not honk
- Keeping distance from other drivers during moments of road rage
- Passing without making eye contact with the driver
- Avoid making gestures towards the driver
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