A 59-year-old woman was struck by a car in North Nashville on Saturday evening and left without help for nearly five hours before officers finally found her unconscious on a sidewalk. Metro police are now asking the public for help tracking down the driver, described only as a Black woman in a purple shirt and light-colored pants who left the scene after briefly helping move the victim out of the road.
Crash Happened Near Buchanan Street Crosswalk
According to a police press release cited by WSMV, the woman was hit at about 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the intersection of Dr. DB Todd Jr. Boulevard and Buchanan Street. A separate report from WKRN places the crash shortly after 5:45 p.m. at the same intersection, and says the pedestrian had been walking in a crosswalk when she was struck by a dark-colored, four-door sedan.
Police described the driver as a Black woman wearing a purple shirt and light-colored pants, per the WSMV report. Before leaving, the driver — with help from other people in the area — lifted the injured woman from the roadway and placed her on the sidewalk, according to the station's report.
Nearly Five Hours Without Help
What happened next is the most troubling part of the case. The injured woman was left lying unaided for nearly five hours until officers happened to be flagged down and discovered her, the same account notes. North Precinct officers found her unconscious at roughly 10:40 p.m., administered Narcan, and when she did not respond, transported her to St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, where she remained in critical condition, per the station's report.
As of Monday, Oct. 26, the woman was reportedly still in critical condition at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, the outlet notes. Metro police are now seeking information not just about the driver and the vehicle, but also about the other people who helped move her off the road. Anyone with information about the driver, the car involved, or the individuals who assisted in moving the pedestrian is asked to call, according to Fox 17.
A Corner With a Troubled Reputation
The intersection sits in a stretch of North Nashville that has drawn heavy police attention in recent months. The same corner near Buchanan Street and Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard has been nicknamed the “Music City warzone” by neighbors because of violence in the area, according to a separate WKRN report, which noted that officers responded 92 times since May 1 to a nearby liquor store and market at 1613 Buchanan St. North Precinct officers have conducted extra self-initiated patrols in the area, the outlet reported.
Tipsters can reach the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's Traffic Division at 615-862-7738, or call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463, where callers can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward, according to a Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Facebook post. No further details about the driver's identity or the vehicle's make, model, or plate have been released.
