Update: Joshua Caldwell was taken into custody this morning by Hermitage Precinct officers, who found him asleep inside a running vehicle on Airport Center Drive. He attempted to flee, but was arrested following a short foot pursuit. Caldwell was booked on his five outstanding warrants as well as three additional charges from this morning’s arrest. He is currently being held in lieu of $247,500 bond.
Arrest warrants charging vehicular homicide by recklessness, aggravated assault and auto theft are now outstanding against Joshua T. Caldwell, 41, in connection with Tuesday’s two-vehicle crash at the intersection of 51st Avenue North and Michigan Avenue that killed the passenger in a stolen Chevy pickup truck being driven by Caldwell. The passenger, Jessie Knox, 43, of Nashville died at the scene. Caldwell fled on foot. Investigation by Traffic Officer Cressie Prill, with the assistance of Crime Stoppers tips, led to Caldwell being identified as the driver.
Prior to the crash, an officer attempted to stop Caldwell for not having a license plate. The truck was traveling northbound on Morrow Road. Caldwell did not stop and turned right into an alley between Michigan Avenue and Kentucky Avenue, traveling a short distance before going off road and turning into an open lot. The pickup then turned onto Michigan Avenue. The officer, seeing that the driver was not going to stop, turned off his emergency equipment and did not follow. He continued through the alley and then turned onto Michigan Avenue where he was flagged down by witnesses to the crash.
The preliminary investigation shows that the pickup truck fled from the traffic stop, traveling east on Michigan Avenue at a high rate of speed. The driver ran a stop sign at the intersection of 51st Avenue North and Michigan Avenue and was struck in the rear by the driver of a Buick Envision. The driver of the Buick had the right of way and could not avoid the collision. The pickup traveled a short distance before crashing head-on into a utility pole. The force from the impact caused the utility pole to break near the base. The truck went airborne and came to rest upside down on top of the utility pole.
Knox, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was partially ejected. The driver of the Buick did not report any injuries while on scene and declined medical treatment.
Caldwell is also being charged with reckless endangerment, evading arrest, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, failure to render aid, and failure to report a crash. Anyone seeing him or knowing his whereabouts is asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.
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Joshua T. Caldwell, 41