The motorcyclist killed Sunday at 9:15 p.m. at the intersection of Murfreesboro Pike and Hobson Pike is identified as Jacob Mathis, 22, of Fairview.
Mathis was riding a Suzuki motorcycle south on Murfreesboro Pike when a northbound Ford Edge, driven by Gilberto Diaz, 36, of Nashville, began to turn left onto Hobson Pike and pulled in front of Mathis. The motorcycle collided with the passenger side of the SUV. Mathis was thrown from the motorcycle. According to witnesses, Mathis was then struck by a second vehicle, described as a Ford Ranger pickup truck, which did not stop. Mathis was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died. Although there was no evidence of alcohol use at the scene, Diaz admitted to drinking three beers earlier Sunday. A blood sample from Diaz will be analyzed at the MNPD Crime Laboratory for alcohol/drug content.
Diaz was treated for minor injuries. He was charged early Monday morning with driving without a license and failure to provide proof of insurance. He is free on $750 bond. At present, the cause of the fatal crash appears to be failure to yield on the part of Diaz.
Additional charges against Diaz are pending the results of alcohol/drug analysis and in consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information about the driver of the Ford pickup truck is asked to contact the Emergency Communications Center at 615-862-8600.
