South Precinct Officer Clayton Smith is recovering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from injuries received when a suspected impaired motorist ran a red light at the intersection of Murfreesboro Pike and Hamilton Church Road causing a collision with Smith’s police car. The crash occurred at 3:50 a.m.
Smith, a three-year MNPD veteran, was off-duty and heading home in his unmarked police car after working the Entertainment District Initiative downtown Friday night and early today. The other motorist, Elijah Dowling, 27, appeared to be impaired. A blood sample from him was obtained via search warrant and will be analyzed by the MNPD Crime Laboratory. Dowling is charged with vehicular assault and DUI. A judicial commissioner set his bond at $5,000.
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Officer Clayton Smith
Officer Smith's Car
Elijah Dowling