A high school cafeteria in Tennessee was violently breached by a car on Tuesday morning, with the heart-stopping moment captured on video by a student wearing smart glasses.
The Moment of Impact
The incident occurred at Middle College High School in Memphis. According to local reports, a parent had just dropped off his child when he lost control of his Infiniti QX80 SUV in the school parking lot. The driver reportedly swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle, but his brakes failed, sending the large car careering directly into the school building.
Senior student Traveon Manning, who was wearing AI-powered Meta glasses, inadvertently filmed the entire event. His footage shows a calm breakfast scene moments before chaos erupted. Nearly 100 students were eating when the SUV smashed through the brick wall and a window, sending tables flying and glass shattering.
'In the moment, I was extremely surprised,' Manning told WREG News. 'I was recording my reaction to a video my friend was showing me, and I did not expect to capture that moment on video.' He described how even people on the far side of the cafeteria were shaken and confused by the sudden intrusion.
Aftermath and Response
The footage captures the immediate panic, with students leaping from their seats and sprinting for exits. Others stood frozen in shock, staring at the front of the vehicle now embedded in their dining area. Emergency services rushed to the scene.
Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. The driver, who has not been publicly identified, was unharmed. One student was taken to hospital after reporting that an object had fallen on her back, but her injuries were not life-threatening. Several other students with minor injuries were examined and cleared by paramedics.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) confirmed the safety of all students and staff in a statement. 'All students and staff are safe, and the matter is being investigated,' the district said. Police confirmed the crash caused significant damage to the school building and that their investigation is ongoing. No charges have been filed at this time.
A Broader Context of School Safety
This frightening event in Memphis comes just weeks after a separate, fatal incident in California highlighted dangers in school car parks. A lawsuit revealed that 15-year-old Cosmo Silverman was killed in June when he was pinned by an SUV in his high school parking lot in Los Angeles.
The Memphis crash, captured so vividly on student video, raises urgent questions about vehicle safety and infrastructure in areas where children gather. While the community is relieved there were no fatalities, the image of a car bursting into a space of presumed safety is one that will linger for the students and staff involved.
