Nigerian Graduate Killed by Fleeing Driver in Nashville

Oluwalayomi Layo Fadero, a 23-year-old Nigerian graduate from Fisk University, was killed in Nashville, Tennessee, when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Rai Eugen Padgett, who was fleeing from police. The incident occurred on a Friday when Padgett attempted to evade arrest after stealing a Ford F-250 truck.

During a police pursuit that reached speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour, Padgett drove oncoming traffic and collided with Fadero's vehicle, killing her instantly. Metro Nashville police confirmed that the crash followed a series of events leading to the pursuit.

Padgett, 52, was later arrested and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He faces multiple felony charges, including criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide.

Padgett has a criminal history with at least 20 prior convictions across five counties in Tennessee. Fadero was remembered by her former professor and classmates as a compassionate individual, and a makeshift memorial was created at the crash site.

A fundraiser has raised $13,000 to assist with her funeral expenses.