James Clark

A 46-year-old woman was killed in a fiery crash Saturday afternoon when her car went off Viola Road and burst into flames.

Warren County resident Maria Lopez died at the scene Saturday around 4:30 p.m.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, witnesses rushed to help Lopez, who was alert and talking after the single-car crash. They tried to get her out of the car, but the dash was pushed against her body, pinning her inside. Lopez was unable to be freed before flames consumed the car.

“The fire killed her,” said state trooper Josh Sparkman. “There’s going to be no way to know why she left the road or if speed played a factor.”

The crash took place near the Mt. Zion community as Lopez was traveling toward McMinnville. Lopez was the lone passenger in a Toyota Matrix and family members say they believe she was going to work.

Lopez crossed the centerline on a straight stretch of road and her car went off the left side. She traveled along a ditch line for some 300 feet before her car plowed through a creek bed, hit a concrete culvert in the creek bed, and came to rest about 25 feet on the other side of the creek.

The vehicle became engulfed in flames with Lopez unable to escape. The fire destroyed the passenger compartment.

Lopez reportedly had children who lived with her in Warren County and other family members in Antioch. She had lived here about six months.

The crash left Viola Road closed for three hours.