Felon rams stolen truck into officer’s vehicle, kills young woman in crash trying to escape: police

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – Tennessee authorities say a man with a long criminal history was taken into custody Friday, but not before leaving a trail of destruction behind.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the ordeal started at about 9:30 a.m. when 52-year-old Ray Eugene Padgett stole a Ford F-250 from a Nashville-area car lot.

Ray Eugene Padgett (WSMV/Gray News)

The truck’s owner tracked down the stolen vehicle to an alley in North Nashville before Padgett took off for the Gallatin Pike area. Officers said they spotted the stolen truck and began following it.

Padgett then stopped the vehicle in the middle of Murfreesboro Pike, accelerated toward an unmarked police vehicle and crashed into it. The detective was not injured.

Tennessee authorities say the parolee continued driving on Murfreesboro Pike, where officers were in pursuit, given the danger he was posing to the public.

Nashville police said Padget ended up crossing into oncoming traffic and slammed into a vehicle, killing a female driver in her 20s.

Padgett was also injured in the crash and taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-critical injuries.

Police said the 52-year-old had about 20 prior felony convictions in Tennessee and is now facing homicide-related charges after the deadly wrong-way crash.

Tennessee authorities said their investigation is ongoing. They did not immediately identify the person whose truck was stolen or the woman who lost her life.

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