A 59-year-old motorcyclist killed in a crash on Bell Road has been identified by Metro Nashville police as Randall Abernathy Sr. The collision happened around 3:30 p.m. on April 10 at the intersection of Bell Road and Nashboro Boulevard. Abernathy was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he later died.
According to Metro investigators, a 2017 Ford Escape pulled onto Bell Road from Nashboro Boulevard and hit Abernathy's southbound 2025 Harley-Davidson Road Glide after the SUV made a right turn on red. Police said neither driver showed signs of impairment, and the crash remains under investigation. The SUV's driver was identified only by the surname Hernandez, and, as of now, no charges have been announced, according to WKRN.
Bell Road's Safety Record and Planned Fixes
Bell Road has already been on the city's radar after a run of serious crashes, and the Nashville Department of Transportation has rolled out a list of fixes aimed at calming traffic along the busy corridor. The Bell Road safety project page highlights a cluster of fatal and serious-injury collisions on sections of the route and outlines planned changes such as speed reductions, new striping, and shoulder work to reduce conflict points, per Nashville.gov.
Investigation and What Officials Are Asking For
Metro's crash reconstruction team is leading the investigation and is asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have dash-cam or surveillance video, to come forward. Police confirmed that Abernathy was taken from the scene to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and later died there, according to WKRN.
How to Help
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Metro Nashville Police Department's Traffic Division at 615-862-7738 or the department's non-emergency number at 615-862-8600. For more details on reporting and police contacts, visit Nashville.gov.
