Pedestrian Struck And Killed On I-24 West Near Murfreesboro Pike

From the City of Nashville:

May 17, 2021

The pedestrian killed Monday at 12:15 p.m. on I-24 West near Murfreesboro Pike is identified as a 40-year-old Nashville man. Efforts continue to notify his next of kin.

The preliminary investigation shows that the driver of 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Alexander Javier Galvez-Zelaya, 26, was traveling west on I-24 in the far left lane when he struck the man, who was running across the interstate.

According to witnesses and Galvez-Zelaya, the man ran into the path of the Chrysler. Galvez-Zelaya braked, but was unable to avoid the collision. The pedestrian died at the scene. There were no signs of impairment on the part of Galvez-Zelaya.

A few minutes before the fatal crash, an officer had stopped to talk to the man, who matched the description of a burglary suspect, on Murfreesboro Pike between the I-24 West Bridge and Spence Lane. While the officer was in his police car checking the man’s information, he fled on foot into a wooded area. The officer did not tell him to stop or give chase. The man was at no time detained or told that he had to stay with the officer.

This press release was produced by the City of Nashville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.