Woman speaks to WBBJ after carport collapses onto her

MCNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. — After the recent winter storm, several structures have faced damage across West Tennessee and one woman is speaking out about her encounter with the damage.

On January 27, Elizabeth Keeton was seen in the carport of the property she rents. Keeton says she was going to start her car to try to get out and go to the store, however things changed quickly.

As she was walking to the carport, she expressed that she heard cracking but assumed it was the ice under her feet until she felt herself on the ground. Not long after, the carport collapsed onto Keeton.

Her husband called 911 and got her out of the rubble. EMS checked on Keeton but they told her that it did not appear that she had any injuries.

However, she went to the hospital the next day and was told she had a concussion and a contusion in her neck and pelvis.

She says this experience has been very traumatic for her.

“I don’t pump gas because I am afraid of the awnings. I have PTSD. I wake up some nights crying because every time I close my eyes I just see everything again,” said Keeton.

According to Keeton, she and her husband went to the landlord immediately to discuss insurance. Keeton says they were told that, originally, insurance would not cover the collapse because it was an Act of God.

However, as of just a few days ago, insurance will now only cover the structure and not the vehicles, according to Keeton.

Keeton says they returned to the home two days ago and saw more damage.

“The whole bedroom area is soaking wet and there’s no water currently–which I assume there’s a busted pipe somewhere,” said Keeton.

Keeton has now filed a lawsuit against the landlord. She says that her and her husband were given thirty days to vacate the property because of the lawsuit.

KEETON SPEAKS WITH WBBJ:

We reached out to the landlord Patricia Thompson for a statement and she said, “I did say I would help as much as I could and my concern was if she was ok.”

Keeton says she has a GoFundMe page set up to help cover financial expenses. If you would like to donate, click here.

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