Nashville police officer killed by 17 year old driving on a suspended license

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Metro police officer was killed in a fiery crash while on-duty near downtown Nashville early Thursday morning.

The crash happened around 3:15 a.m. near Woodland Street and Interstate Drive.

Metro police identified the officer as four-year veteran of the force, 28-year-old John Anderson. He worked the overnight shift in downtown Nashville and was part of the department’s Drill and Ceremony team.

He joined the force on Nov. 1, 2014.

His patrol car was hit by a Ford Fusion driven by 17-year-old Jayona Brown, according to Metro police.

Around 3 a.m., a DUI officer saw the Ford Fusion coming toward him with its high beams on and turned on the cruiser’s flashing lights in an attempt to stop the car.

That officer activated his siren near Fifth Avenue and Main Street but the Ford took off toward downtown Nashville, according to Metro police spokesperson Don Aaron.

Aaron said the DUI officer then checked the license plate to see if the Ford was stolen but it had not and no pursuit of the vehicle was ever initiated.

According to Aaron, Officer Anderson was then driving outbound on Woodland Street to help another officer respond to a report of a pedestrian on nearby Interstate 24.

Metro police reported Anderson’s cruiser was hit “very, very hard” by the Ford Fusion on its driver’s side at the intersection of Woodland Street and Interstate Drive.

Officer Anderson’s cruiser was spun around in the intersection, where it came to rest against a utility pole and caught fire, according to Aaron.

Another officer came upon the scene shortly after the crash and called for assistance but Officer Anderson died at the scene.

Aaron specified Officer Anderson had a flashing yellow light at the intersection while 17-year-old Brown had a flashing red light.

Brown was released from the hospital and is now charged with reckless endangerment, felony evading, driving on a suspended license and vehicular homicide. She will also be charged with aggravated assault for the injury to her passenger and curfew violations.

Police said she was driving her aunt’s car at the time of the crash.