Parolee with 20 Prior Convictions Charged in Fatal Stolen Truck Pursuit That Killed 23-Year-Old Nursing Student

Ray Eugene Padgett, a serial offender on parole, faces homicide charges after a stolen truck chase killed 23-year-old nursing student Oluwalayomi Fadero.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 11:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fox News

A Violent Pursuit Through North Nashville

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has apprehended a 52 year old man following a series of violent collisions and a high speed chase that claimed the life of a young student. Ray Eugene Padgett is accused of stealing a Ford F-250 pickup truck from a Nashville dealership on Friday, March 20. The vehicle's owner managed to track the truck to an alley off St. Louis Street, but when he attempted to intervene, Padgett allegedly rammed the owner's vehicle and fled the scene. This initial confrontation set off a chain of events that involved air support and multiple attempts by Padgett to disable police vehicles.

Fatal Collision in the Path of an Oncoming Driver

As Nashville police monitored the stolen truck via helicopter, Padgett reportedly spotted an unmarked police vehicle in a median and rammed it before accelerating away. The pursuit lasted approximately five minutes before reaching a tragic conclusion at 2:30 p.m. Authorities state that Padgett crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a white Hyundai Elantra driven by 23 year old Oluwalayomi Fadero. The force of the impact was so severe that the car was pushed nearly 100 yards into a roadside ditch. Fadero was pronounced dead at the scene, while her dog, Nala, miraculously survived the wreckage and has since been reunited with the victim's family.

Criminal History and Parole Status of the Suspect

The arrest has sparked significant public debate regarding Tennessee’s parole system, as Padgett was free on parole at the time of the crash despite an extensive criminal record. According to police records, Padgett has accumulated at least 20 criminal convictions across five different Tennessee counties. He is now facing a litany of new charges, including vehicular homicide by recklessness, criminally negligent homicide, felony reckless endangerment, and driving on a revoked license. He is currently being held in the Davidson County Jail in lieu of an $805,000 bond as prosecutors move to finalize the indictment.