NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — An East Nashville hit-and-run victim pleads for traffic cameras to be placed near an intersection after a driver hit her father less than a month later.
Aja Tate, 30, was walking home from the store near S. 4th Street and Shelby Ave on January 19 when a driver hit her while she was walking in the crosswalk.
On Monday night, Tate received a call from a hospital informing her that her dad had been hit by a vehicle at the same crosswalk.
"It blew my mind, my stomach really just turned. He's had to have surgery, he's had to have his head sown back together. He can't walk right now, he's in a lot of pain," she said.
Metro Police said on Monday around 10 p.m., Karl A. Tate was hit while crossing South 4th and Shelby Ave. The driver was heading eastbound when Tate was struck. Tate suffered lacerations to his head and broken bones. He was transported to Centennial Hospital to undergo surgery. A witness told police he believed the driver was in a small dark, possibly grey vehicle.
Tate's daughter said she wants the city to place traffic cameras up at the intersection.
"It's time to do something about that intersection. Me and my father has been hit, a man has been killed by a rock, even this lady who works for me, she got hit on her bike three years ago. That's three years ago, the man who got hit by the rock that was about a year ago and me and my father get hit about a month a part. If that doesn't tell the district that it's time to do something, then I don't know what's going to tell them that it's time to do something," she said.
Councilman Brett Withers said within the last two years the city has reduced the speed limit from 35 to 30 m.p.h. along parts of Shelby Avenue, upgraded traffic lights and sidewalks but agreed traffic cameras should be installed.
Withers said he's trying to figure out what funding sources might be available for paying for cameras and what officials would be responsible for monitoring cameras.
"One of the complicating factors of this particular area is right here at 4th as you get on to the interstate exit that area is under the control of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. So we might need to work with them and some folks at the state. So there might be a couple of options I think is the good thing but it might take a little while to sort out and what might be the best way to fund and install and monitor cameras," Withers said.
Officials have not been able to locate the drivers in either hit-and-run accidents.
If you would like to help the Tate family, a gofundme page has been set up to do just that.
