Authorities in the United States have arrested a suspect following a deadly hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a 23-year-old Nigerian graduate, Oluwalayomi Fadero.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed that Ray Eugene Padgett is in custody over the crash, which unfolded after a chain of events involving a stolen vehicle and a high-speed pursuit in Nashville.
Police said the suspect allegedly stole a vehicle and attempted to flee after the owner tracked its location. The situation escalated when Padgett realised he was being followed, reportedly crashing into another vehicle before speeding off.
Officers deployed aerial surveillance to monitor the suspect’s movement, intending to track the vehicle until it could be safely intercepted.
“The intention at that point is to keep an eye on the truck until it finally stops, have ground units move in, and take the man into custody,” police spokesperson Don Aaron said.
However, the situation intensified when the suspect allegedly rammed into an unmarked police car, triggering a high-speed chase that reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour along Murfreesboro Pike.
The pursuit came to a tragic end around 2:30 p.m. near Hickory Woods Drive when the suspect drove into oncoming traffic and collided with Fadero’s vehicle.
Authorities said the impact forced her car nearly 100 yards off the road into a ditch. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Padgett was later arrested and taken to a hospital. Investigators say he is expected to face charges including criminal homicide.
Police also disclosed that the suspect was on parole at the time of the incident, adding that the sequence of events began with the alleged vehicle theft and culminated in the fatal crash.
“We believe he was on parole when he stole the truck and set off the chain of events that led to the death of an innocent woman returning home,” authorities said.
