Timothy Wedlock traveled all the way from Australia to downtown Nashville to take in the country music scene on Broadway. On a clear Saturday afternoon, his vacation ended in seconds at the corner of 4th Avenue South and Broadway when a sedan blew through a red light and hit a crowd in the crosswalk.
The 58-year-old Australian was crossing the street with several other pedestrians. They stepped into the lane with the signal in their favor. At that exact moment, a southbound car came down 4th Avenue, missed the red signal, and slammed right into the group.
Wedlock took the brunt of the collision. Emergency responders rushed to the intersection within minutes, but Wedlock died at the scene on one of the busiest streets in the city.
Three other people crossing with Wedlock were rushed to the hospital. A 44-year-old man from Jacksonville, Florida, suffered critical injuries and remains in intensive care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A 58-year-old woman from Parsons, Tennessee, is also at Vanderbilt in critical but stable condition. A 21-year-old woman from Knoxville survived with minor injuries.
Wedlock’s sudden death has devastated his family and friends back in Australia. What started as an exciting trip across the globe turned into a nightmare as his loved ones now face the painful task of bringing him home.
Police identified the driver of the 2013 Ford Fusion as 87-year-old Thomas Cahill of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Cahill was driving with his 90-year-old wife in the front seat and her hired caregiver sitting in the back. The caregiver told officers she was checking her phone and only looked up when she heard the impact.
Metro Nashville Police said Cahill showed no signs of drug or alcohol impairment. Cahill and his wife were treated at a nearby hospital for minor injuries. Crash investigators are checking traffic cameras and street data to figure out why Cahill did not stop at the light.
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