NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Metro Nashville Police Department has identified the woman tragically killed in a hit-and-run on Interstate 40 early Tuesday morning as 42-year-old Melena Sanderson, a resident of Nashville.
The heartbreaking incident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. on I-40 West near Old Hickory Boulevard, when Sanderson exited a gray SUV that had pulled over on the right shoulder of the interstate. For reasons still under investigation, she walked into the lanes of traffic, where she was struck by multiple passing vehicles.
The first vehicle to hit her, a burgundy sedan, fled the scene immediately after the collision. Additional vehicles struck Sanderson afterward, though only one driver, operating a Fiat, remained on scene to speak with police and offer information.
Compounding the tragedy, the driver of the gray SUV that Sanderson had exited also left the scene without offering assistance, police said. Detectives are now working diligently to identify and locate both the burgundy sedan and the gray SUV, as well as any other motorists who may have been involved and failed to remain at the scene.
Investigators believe the burgundy sedan likely sustained significant front-end, windshield, and possibly roof damage and may currently be undergoing repairs or alterations. Authorities are urging body shop owners and the public to be alert for vehicles matching that description.
This incident has reignited public concern over the growing number of fatal pedestrian crashes and hit-and-run cases, particularly on high-speed roadways at night. Police stressed the legal and moral obligation of all drivers to stop and render aid after a collision, emphasizing that fleeing the scene only deepens the trauma and the potential consequences.
Officials have not yet released details about what prompted Sanderson to leave the vehicle or whether she was alone. It also remains unclear if there was a breakdown, argument, or other event that led to her walking into traffic.
Sanderson’s loved ones have not yet issued a public statement, but the community mourns her sudden and tragic loss. Friends and family are left with unanswered questions, and investigators continue to seek clarity and justice.
Anyone with information—particularly those who may have witnessed the crash, saw the vehicles involved, or know individuals connected to the case—is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and authorities say even minor details could prove crucial.
The investigation remains active and ongoing as detectives work to bring closure to Sanderson’s family and accountability to those responsible for this senseless loss.
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