09/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/03/2024 11:39
The critically injured driver involved in Tuesday's 3 a.m. single-vehicle roll over crash on I-40 near downtown is identified as Shondarrius Cook, 32, of Nashville.
The preliminary investigation shows that Cook was driving a Toyota Camry eastbound at a high rate of speed on I-40 where I-24 East and I-40 East merge. Cook came up on another vehicle and attempted to change lanes but due to his speed, lost control of the car. The Camry crashed through a metal guard rail on the left side of the Interstate and became airborne, landing upside down on the left shoulder of I-40 West.
After the crash, Cook, who was not wearing a seat belt, exited the car and ran across all four lanes of I-24 West/I-40 West before jumping from the bridge over Hermitage Avenue onto a small ledge. He then jumped from the ledge onto the sidewalk along Hermitage Avenue. Responding officers stopped him there and transported him to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was deemed to have life-threatening injuries. There is no evidence that he was impaired. At the time of the crash, Cook had three outstanding warrants for two probation violations and failure to appear.