NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — A 33-year-old Nashville man died Monday night after he abandoned his car following a hit-and-run crash involving a tractor-trailer, ran across Interstate 24 East near the Haywood Lane exit, and was struck by a second semi-truck.
Wilondja Mtendji was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Metro Nashville Police said South Precinct officers first responded around 8:22 p.m. on October 19 to a report of a hit-and-run crash involving a car and a tractor-trailer near mile marker 57. The preliminary investigation determined that Mtendji was the driver of the car that had been involved in the hit-and-run. His vehicle came to a stop against the middle retaining wall. He then got out, ran across the interstate, and was hit by another semi.
The driver of the tractor-trailer that struck Mtendji stopped immediately on the right shoulder and showed no signs of impairment, police said.
All eastbound lanes were closed until about 11:30 p.m. Emergency personnel diverted traffic off the interstate at mile marker 55.5 (Harding Place exit), and eastbound traffic backed up as far as the Briley Parkway exit at mile marker 53.7.
No additional details have been released. The investigation is ongoing.
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