Driver fleeing repossession hits downed tree on closed road and dies, Tennessee cops say

A driver’s attempt to avoid having her car repossessed turned deadly when she drove around officers onto a closed road and crashed into a tree, Tennessee authorities said.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified her as 51-year-old Timberly Martin.

On Monday, Nov. 25, a wrecker was trying to repossess Martin’s Infiniti when police say Martin sped off.

She’s accused of avoiding two different traffic stops before encountering a closed portion of Briley Parkway.

The road was partly shut down as crews were working to remove a tall downed tree after an earlier crash involving two cars and the tree, police said.

Martin ignored the warning and drove around the officers onto the closed portion of the road, then she plowed into the tree “at a high rate of speed,” according to police.

She died at the scene.

This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 8:04 AM with the headline "Driver fleeing repossession hits downed tree on closed road and dies, Tennessee cops say."