Tennessee officer killed on Fourth of July morning in fiery crash
Photo credit: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (FOX 13) - A Tennessee police officer died Thursday morning following a fiery crash.
Just after 3 a.m., Officer John Anderson with the Metro Nashville Police Department was killed in a vehicle crash at Interstate Drive and Woodland Street. Officials said his patrol car was struck by a 17-year-old driver.
“It is with extreme sadness that the MNPD confirms the on-duty death of Central Precinct Officer John Anderson, 28, a 4-yr MNPD veteran,” according to a tweet by the agency.
FOX 17 reports there was heavy smoke coming from the police car and the teen’s vehicle was seriously damaged, and possibly caught fire too.
The events leading up to the crash remain under investigation. The teen driver had non-life threatening injuries and her 18-year-old passenger has life-threatening injuries, according to FOX 17. Both were taken to a hospital.
Police said Anderson had the right of way when he was struck by the driver. The teen faces charges of vehicular homicide, driving on a suspended license and felony evading.
The mayor of Nashville released the following statement:
This story was written in Tampa, Florida.