The city's police community is devastated after a fiery Fourth of July crash claimed the life of a Metro Nashville police officer who dedicated his time to honoring his fallen colleagues.

Officer John Anderson, 28, was killed at 3:05 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Interstate Drive and Woodland Street after police say his car was hit by a Ford Fusion driven by a 17-year-old girl.

The force of the impact on the driver’s side of the car pushed it into a utility pole. The four-year veteran of the police department died at the scene.

He is the fifth officer to die in the line of duty in Nashville since 2000.

“His life was cut very short,” said Central Police Commander Gordon Howey, fighting back tears as he talked to reporters. “This is what he wanted to do. He loved every single minute of it.”

Police identified the girl as Jayona Brown, who suffered minor injuries. She was discharged from Vanderbilt University Medical Center Thursday and booked into juvenile detention on charges of vehicular homicide by recklessness, felony evading arrest, aggravated assault by recklessness, driving on a suspended license and juvenile curfew violation.

Antona Esaw, 18, a passenger in the Fusion, suffered life-threatening injuries. She was taken to Skyline Medical Center.

Amid the tragedy, Nashville police officers and the community tried to comprehend Anderson's death.

“It’s very traumatic, very upsetting to the other officers, particularly those that worked with him," Central Precinct Lt. Harold Burke said. “We want to give those officers time to process those feelings.”

Officer John Anderson was also a father, hockey player

Anderson, a member of the drill and ceremony unit which honors fallen officers in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, served at the Nashville ceremony to honor Mumaw.

He was the type of person that used his own time to learn to play the bagpipes to serve on the team, said Lt. Matt Sears, drill and ceremony unit supervisor. Sears said the task now is to honor Anderson.

“This is the type of thing that we prepare for,” Sears said. “It is a little more difficult for us today since he was a part of the team.”

Anderson leaves behind his girlfriend and his son, who is about 18 months old.

Officer Richard Conger, class president in Anderson’s trainee class, said Anderson was a “great guy and a great man.”

Anderson graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2013 and was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He graduated from the police academy in 2015.

He was beloved by the Nashville hockey community, said Jasen Riherd, a fellow adult league player and former coach of the Middle Tennessee State University hockey team.

He described Anderson as a hard worker and a “pretty good goaltender.”

On the ice, Riherd described Anderson as “quirky,” and remembered him showing up to one game wearing a tuxedo top as a jersey.

James Nally played hockey with Anderson and the two became good friends in recent years. He said Anderson was known for his sense of humor and ability to make his friends and teammates laugh.

“One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet,” Nally said. “Extremely personable. He was funny. There were a few times on hockey road trips where there’d be four of us in a hotel room, and he was pure entertainment. Everyone just loved to be around him.

“He was really proud of his son and looking forward to doing sports and building things with him,” Nally said.

Ryan Patterson, who coached Anderson at Lipscomb, said, “He was a pretty solid guy all around. He was always upbeat. He always had a positive attitude and a good sense of humor.”

The last Nashville officer to die while on duty was Officer Jason Mumaw, who was killed in February 2017 trying to save a woman who drove into the frigid waters of the Cumberland River.

Nashville mayor, police chief honor fallen officer

Nashville Mayor David Briley said Anderson's death was a reminder of the sacrifices first responders make every day.

"Our officers are part of the fabric of this city, and I am eternally grateful for what they do every day, risking their lives to save others. I want to thank each of the brave men and women of our Metro Nashville Police Department. We should all be so lucky to have a police force like ours."

Anderson's regular assignment was the midnight shift in the Central Precinct, which encompasses downtown. Officers who worked the midnight shift with him were sent home after the crash.

"It goes without saying that when we lose an officer ... it's like losing a brother or sister," said Chief Steve Anderson, who is not related to the fallen policeman.

Councilman Brett Withers called Anderson's death senseless, saying it is devastating for the city and his family.

"May God receive Officer John Anderson and walk with his family and friends during this time of loss and sorrow," Withers said. "And may God watch over the young driver and her passenger as they heal from injuries and come to terms with what happened this morning."

Briley and Chief Anderson held a moment of silence for Officer Anderson during the Thursday downtown Fourth of July festivities.

Chief Anderson said the officer was a member of the color guard that presented the flag before the thousands in attendance. He asked attendees to shake the hand or thank officers who worked the event.

"As we come together as a city, a region and country, let's all remember that each and every day our officers put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we are all celebrating today," Briley said.

How the Nashville police officer crash happened

Minutes before the crash, DUI unit Officer Brian Dugre was traveling east on Gallatin Avenue in an unmarked police car. He attempted to stop the Fusion, which had its bright lights on and was not dimming them for oncoming traffic, police said in a media release.

Police said Dugre saw the driver commit a lane violation and activated his blue lights.

"Brown pulled to the right and slowed down, but did not stop," the release said.

When Dugre activated his siren, Brown sped away, police said.

"Knowing that the Fusion had not been reported stolen (it belongs to Brown's aunt), Officer Dugre did not pursue it but did radio that the car did not stop at North 5th and Main streets," police said in the release.

Anderson was heading to Interstate 24 to assist another officer who was handling a report of a pedestrian on the interstate, police said.

Anderson was traveling to East Nashville on Woodland Street.

He was at the intersection of Woodland Street and Interstate Drive when his police car was hit very hard by the Fusion, which police say was traveling south on Interstate Drive.

"The Fusion struck with tremendous impact," Metro spokesperson Kris Mumford said.

According to police, traffic on Woodland had the right of way via a flashing yellow traffic light; traffic on Interstate Drive should have stopped for a flashing red traffic light.

The impact pushed Anderson's police cruiser into a nearby utility pole.

"The police car did catch fire due to the impact," said police spokesman Don Aaron.

Anderson died at the scene.

Tennessean reporter Nate Rau contributed to this report.