Off-Duty Florida Officer Saves Woman Struck In Nashville Crash
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Driver Hits Multiple Pedestrians In Downtown Nashville
On August 1, one person died and three others were taken to the hospital after a vehicle struck multiple people on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.
The Metro Nashville Police Department said the crash occurred at the intersection of Broadway and 4th Avenue. Authorities later identified the driver as an 87-year-old man from Kentucky.
BREAKING: 1 pedestrian has died & 3 others are hospitalized after being struck this afternoon by an 87 yr old driver from KY at the intersection of Broadway & 4th Ave downtown. Investigation by MNPD Traffic Division is active. pic.twitter.com/fK3Z5mPezA
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) August 1, 2026
Police said the pedestrians had the right of way as they crossed Fourth Avenue with an active walk signal when a white 2013 Ford Fusion allegedly ran a red light and hit at least four people. The collision was captured on cameras at the intersection.
All four pedestrians were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 58-year-old Timothy Wedlock of Australia died shortly after being admitted.
Authorities later identified the surviving pedestrians as Matthew Gregg, 44, Dianne Cooper, 58, and Kathleen Broderick, 21.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell shared a statement following the tragic incident:
Florida Police Officer Helps One Of The Victims
An off-duty Florida police officer simply on vacation in Nashville is now being hailed a hero following that tragic incident.
According to local news reports, Officer Chase Thompson of the Boynton Beach, Florida, Police Department was walking along Broadway with his fiancée when a white sedan plowed into pedestrians near Fourth Avenue. One of the victims, Dianne Cooper, fell directly in front of him.
“She wasn’t breathing. She was unconscious. She had a very faint pulse at that point,” Thompson told News Channel 5.
With very little time to act, Thompson reportedly got on the ground and began performing CPR immediately.
“I just knew that somebody needed help, and I had the training; luckily I was there at the right time. I had the training to be able to help Mrs. Cooper,” Thompson said.
Days later, Cooper’s husband reached out to Thompson to tell him she was on the mend.
“It meant everything. Like I said, usually you don’t hear after the fact of a critical incident. So the fact that he followed up — her husband followed up Mr. Cooper and gave me a status on how she’s doing and all that. It meant a lot,” Thompson continued.
