NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Tennessee parolee is now in custody and facing multiple felony charges in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash on Murfreesboro Pike that killed a Nashville woman.
Police said Ray Eugene Padgett, 52, is being held on $805,000 bond on charges including criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide by recklessness. Investigators said Padgett was driving a stolen Ford F-250 pickup truck the wrong way in the inbound lanes of Murfreesboro Pike Friday afternoon when the crash occurred.
The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Oluwalayomi Fadero. Police said her Hyundai Elantra was struck on the driver’s side as she attempted to turn from Murfreesboro Pike onto Hickory Woods Drive.
Detectives have also charged Padgett with attempted criminal homicide for ramming an unmarked police SUV with a plainclothes detective inside at a connector road between Murfreesboro Pike and Old Murfreesboro Pike. Police said that crash happened about five minutes before the fatal collision.
Police said Padgett is suspected of stealing the pickup truck from a Nashville car lot Friday morning. The owner tracked it to an alley off St. Louis Street in North Nashville and drove there in another vehicle. Police said Padgett then reversed the truck and rammed the owner’s vehicle before fleeing. Additional charges are anticipated.
Padgett, who has at least 20 prior convictions across five Tennessee counties, is currently charged with criminally negligent homicide, vehicular homicide by recklessness, felony reckless endangerment, attempted criminal homicide and driving on a revoked license.
Police said Padgett suffered minor injuries in the crash. He was discharged from the hospital Saturday and immediately taken into custody.
Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you'll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.
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