NASHVILLE, TN — The pedestrian struck by several cars and killed in the westbound lanes of I-40 at Donelson Pike at 2:45 a.m. today is identified as Rebecca M. Mealer, 37, of Antioch.
Police say Mealer was the passenger in a vehicle being driven by her husband, Ronald Mealer. It has been reported to officers that Rebecca Mealer was under the influence of a controlled substance and asked to be let out of the vehicle. Her husband said he pulled over near the Donelson Pike exit, believing that she would walk up the ramp. Instead, she walked into the traffic lanes of the interstate and was struck by an unknown number of vehicles. One of those, a Nissan SUV driven by 23-year-old Nashville woman, did stop and waited for officers. No charges were placed against her.
The westbound lanes of I-40 at Donelson Pike were closed while the police department’s Fatal Crash Team conducted the investigation. The interstate reopened at 8:20 a.m.
