NASHVILLE, Tn. – The Metro Nashville Police Department said that a married couple from Jacksonville was killed in a crash involving a stolen Jeep on April 4, according to news station WSMV.
Police said that at 2:40 a.m., Kirk Granfors, 64, and his wife, Kathy Granfors, 68, were riding in a taxicab traveling west, and according to witnesses, the cab driver had the green light at the intersection.
The Jeep was traveling at a high rate of speed and collided with the passenger-side door of the taxi.
The police report said Kathy Granfors, who was in the rear seat of the passenger side, died at the scene. Kirk Granfors was taken to a hospital, where he died.
The taxi driver, 37, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said it’s unknown how many people were in the Jeep, but George A. Chaney, 37, tried to flee on foot but couldn’t due to his injuries. Chaney is suspected of being the driver and was hospitalized.
He will be arrested when he is discharged on a state parole violation warrant.
In 2019, Chaney was sentenced to two concurrent 12-year sentences for heroin convictions. Last year, he was registered as an ex-con on parole.
Last month, he was arrested on charges of felony reckless endangerment with a vehicle, evading arrest and auto theft.
Barbara Hurst Jones has known Kathy since she was four. She spoke on behalf of the family and said it was devastating to learn this had happened. She described the couple as the kindest people who didn’t deserve this.
Jones said the Granfors were in Nashville celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary.
They had three children: Michael Thomason, Jefferey Winterling, and Sarah Denton. They lived to be called “mema and pepaw” by their grandchildren.
Jones said it’s sad to know such loving people died after being hit by a person speeding. The last few days have been hard but she plans to remember them in better times.
“I will be honoring them is by always to be talking about the memories and being there for their children and for the grandchildren, just being a part of what they loved so much, which will come very naturally, because I love her family,” Jones said.
Kathy is the former daughter-in law of our long-time meteorologist George Winterling.
Click here to donate to the family’s GoFundMe.
