Thackston lost control of his vehicle while exiting at the Opryland exit on Briley Parkway at a speed of 55 miles per hour; the exit ramp was posted for 25 miles per hour. The car left the ramp, went airborne, and struck the central divider. After the accident, Thackston was found to have had a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, and pled no contest to reckless endangerment and was ordered to complete an alcohol treatment program. West did not believe she was as badly injured as her neighbor had been, and insisted he be treated first. Officers who responded to the scene incorrectly reported she did not seem harmed at the time. West herself was under the same impression; however, she had suffered severe internal injuries and proved to have suffered both a ruptured spleen and a lacerated liver. Her spleen was removed that Friday, and the following Monday, she underwent two more surgeries to stop her liver from bleeding; these efforts ultimately failed. Doctors said that West knew the extent of her injuries and even visited with Kenny Rogers shortly before her last operation. On September 4, 1991, during her third operation, West died on the operating table at 9:43 am, at the age of 58.