A wrong-way crash kills a Nigerian woman in Nashville, Tennessee, leaving the city and her community grappling with grief and questions about repeat offenders on parole. Oluwalayomi Fadero, 23, had recently completed her degree and was pursuing an accelerated nursing program when her life ended abruptly in a violent collision.
Authorities said the chain of events began around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, when 52-year-old Ray Eugene Padgett, a convicted felon with a long criminal record, allegedly stole a Ford truck from an auto lot in North Nashville. The vehicle had a tracking device, and the lot owner notified police and began monitoring the truck’s movements.
By 12:10 p.m., the truck was located in an alley off St. Louis Street. Police said Padgett put the truck in reverse and struck the vehicle belonging to the lot owner before fleeing the scene. Officers followed him with undercover vehicles as he drove through the Madison area.
The situation escalated when Padgett allegedly rammed an unmarked police SUV with a plainclothes detective inside near the connector road between Murfreesboro Pike and Old Murfreesboro Pike, close to Nashville International Airport. The officer exited the SUV and ran for safety. MNPD described this as a moment of immediate danger.
About five minutes later, Padgett drove the wrong way on Murfreesboro Pike at speeds approaching 80 mph. Investigators said he struck a Hyundai Elantra on the driver’s side as Fadero turned from Murfreesboro Pike onto Hickory Woods Drive, heading home from work. She died at the scene.
“Ray Eugene Padgett has some 20 convictions,” said MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron. “He was on parole this morning when he stole the truck, setting off the chain of events that claimed the life of an innocent woman returning home.”
Padgett’s criminal record spans five Tennessee counties, including Davidson, Putnam, Sumner, Fentress, and Wilson. His offenses include burglaries, auto-related crimes, and multiple thefts. He was last arrested in Nashville in 2023 for a parole violation and had been released prior to Friday’s incident.
After sustaining minor injuries in the crash, Padgett was hospitalized. Authorities said he was discharged on March 21 and immediately taken into custody at the Downtown Detention Center. He faces an $805,000 bond and charges including criminally negligent homicide, vehicular homicide by recklessness, felony reckless endangerment, attempted criminal homicide, and driving on a revoked license. Additional charges related to the truck theft and the earlier collision with the lot owner are expected.
Fisk University identified Fadero as an alum and expressed sorrow over her death. “The Fisk University community is heartbroken to learn of the tragic passing of Oluwalayomi Fadero, a recent graduate,” the university said. “Our hearts and prayers are with the Fadero family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Former professor Janet Walsh remembered Fadero as compassionate and kind. A makeshift memorial has been established at the crash site, and counseling services are available for students and staff. Supporters have also organized a fundraiser for funeral expenses, raising over $13,000 as family and friends continue to mourn.
