16-Year-Old Facing 2 Counts of Vehicular Homicide for Today's Double Fatality Crash on Murfreesboro Pike

1/31/2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 16-year-old driver of a Nissan 370Z involved in this morning’s double fatality crash on Murfreesboro Pike will be charged with two counts of vehicular homicide after his discharge from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The 16-year-old is being treated for non-critical injuries.

The investigation to this point shows that the 16-year-old was traveling outbound on Murfreesboro Pike with a female passenger at a very high rate of speed just after 7 a.m., likely on the way to Antioch High School. The driver of a GMC Terrain SUV pulled out of an apartment complex driveway to turn left onto Murfreesboro Pike, causing the 16-year-old to swerve to the left. The Nissan clipped the GMC and traveled into the oncoming lanes of Murfreesboro Pike. The Nissan then struck a Chevrolet Camaro and a Toyota Corolla head-on. The driver of the Toyota, Miguel A. Lopez Rodriguez, 44, was killed at the scene. His wife, Ana L. Nieto, 44, received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Vanderbilt.

After colliding with the Toyota, the Nissan 370Z skidded uphill for 193 feet where it came to final rest and burst into flames. Witnesses pulled the 16-year-old driver to safety as the car started to burn. They were unable to rescue the passenger. She was burned beyond recognition. The victim is presumed to be a 16-year-old Antioch High School student. DNA analysis will be necessary to confirm her identity.

The drivers of the GMC Terrain and Camaro were not critically hurt.

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