Natalie Neysa Alund

nalund@tennessean.com

A man injured after being shot inside a vehicle traveling along Interstate 440 west Tuesday night told authorities he "accidentally" shot himself, Metro police said Wednesday.

According to police, about 8:30 p.m., a Tennessee Department of Transportation driver stopped to assist when he saw a 1998 gold Infinite on the side of the roadway.

The TDOT worker contacted police when one of the passengers,19-year-old Eduardo Alvarez, told him he had been shot.

Officers arrived and interviewed three other passengers in the car, Jeavaunie Francis, 20, and two juveniles, ages 16 and 17.

During that interaction, police say, a mason jar full of marijuana was in plain view in the rear passenger side floorboard.

During a search of the car, two handguns — of which had been reported stolen in Wilson County — and several small baggies of pills were recovered.

After the man was taken to a hospital to be treated for the minor injury, he admitted to detectives that he had, in fact, accidentally shot himself in the calf with a handgun as the vehicle was traveling on the interstate.

Police charged Alvarez and Francis with theft of property, evidence tampering, unlawful weapon possession, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Alvarez was being jailed Wednesday in lieu of $17,500 bond. Additionally, Francis was charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution after 20 pills were found on him as he was being booked into jail.

The 16 and 17-year-olds have been charged in juvenile court with theft and unlawful weapon and drug possession.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.