Timothy Wedlock came all the way from Australia to see Nashville, but his journey ended in a fraction of a second on a sunny Saturday afternoon. He was simply stepping off the curb at Fourth Avenue and Broadway, following the walk signal alongside other pedestrians. Within moments, a red Ford Fusion blew straight through the red light and plowed into the crowd. Wedlock took the main hit, sustaining severe injuries that took his life right there in the middle of Music City’s busiest tourist strip.
At 58 years old, Wedlock was halfway around the world, taking in the sights and sounds that draw millions of visitors to Tennessee every year. Broadway was packed with people enjoying the afternoon, moving from one music spot to the next. Nobody on that crosswalk had any reason to think a car would not stop. Wedlock was legally crossing the street, doing everything right, when the car slammed into him without warning.
He was not the only one caught in the collision. Three other pedestrians crossing with Wedlock were struck down on the asphalt. A 44-year-old man visiting from Jacksonville, Florida, was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition. Emergency crews picked up a 58-year-old woman from Parsons, Tennessee, who remains in critical but stable condition. A 21-year-old woman from Knoxville was also hit, suffering injuries that doctors expect her to survive.
Bystanders and shop patrons watched in shock as the busy intersection turned into an emergency scene. Sirens cut through the sound of live music playing from nearby open-air bars. Paramedics rushed onto Fourth Avenue South to work on Wedlock and stabilize the other victims. Traffic froze across several blocks while police tape sealed off the crosswalk.
Behind the wheel of the 2013 Ford Fusion was 87-year-old Thomas Cahill of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Cahill had his 90-year-old wife in the front passenger seat and her caregiver riding in the back. The caregiver told officers she was looking down at her phone when she suddenly heard a loud crunch, looked up, and saw the pedestrians hitting the car. Both Cahill and his wife were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Metro Nashville Police officers evaluated Cahill at the scene and confirmed he showed no signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Officers are looking into whether he suffered a sudden medical emergency that caused him to run the red light. The Traffic Division is continuing to examine vehicle data and physical evidence to piece together what happened in those final seconds.
As investigators work to determine if criminal charges will be filed, Wedlock’s family back home in Australia faces the task of bringing him home. A trip meant for making memories ended in a sudden tragedy on a Nashville street corner. Downtown business owners and visitors are left mourning a man who came to explore their city and never made it back.
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