Man’s call to sister after crash cuts off, then he’s found dead 8 days later, cops say

Olivia Lloyd
Getty Images/iStockphoto

A man who was missing for eight days was found dead on the side of an interstate from a suspected hit-and-run, Tennessee police said.

Tarrance Williams was in a single-car crash shortly after 9 p.m. on April 15 and called his sister while walking from the scene, according to a news release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

Then he swore, and the line went silent, his sister told investigators.

She couldn’t get in touch with him, and on April 19, she reported the 46-year-old man missing, police said.

The afternoon of April 23, detectives said they used cellphone data to track Williams’ location to the side of Interstate 24 near Briley Parkway, where he was in the initial crash.

Police said they discovered his body at the bottom of an embankment about 20 feet from the highway. It appeared he had been hit by a vehicle, but detectives aren’t sure where exactly the collision occurred, according to police.

The medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death. Police are asking anyone with information to reach out to Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

What to do if you’re in a car crash

More than 5 million traffic accidents were reported by police in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“No one wants to get into a car crash. But being prepared and knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier,” the Insurance Information Institute said on its website.

Here are 10 things you should do if you’re in a car crash:

  • Pull the vehicle over to a safe place on the side of the road if possible.

  • Assess any possible injuries and make sure everyone is OK.

  • Call 911 if anyone is injured.

  • Assess the car damage and take photos if possible.

  • Don’t leave the scene.

  • If the vehicle involved was unattended, leave a note with your name and phone number.

  • Note the names and contact information of everyone in the crash, the makes and models of the cars, and the location of the crash.

  • Ask other drivers for a license, car registration and insurance ID.

  • Report the crash to police or highway patrol.

  • File an accident report even if police can’t come to the scene, and notify your insurance shortly after.

Single dad dies in hit-and-run, leaving 8-year-old girl without parents, loved ones say

Body found in woods near missing man’s abandoned car, Georgia police say

Driver leaves tavern then crashes into party, killing young siblings, mom’s lawsuit says

Driver fleeing cops with 2-month-old crashes, fatally injuring infant, NC deputies say

Advertisement