Man accused of drunk driving causing fatal crash on I-24 East in Antioch

A man has been arrested following a fatal crash that caused the closure of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 24 in Antioch for several hours last Sunday. The Tennessee Department of Transportation reported the crash at around 3:19 a.m. near mile marker 59, resulting in the closure of I-24 eastbound and the Bell Road exit. Traffic was redirected at Harding Place due to the crash and a subsequent incident at mile marker 58, which resulted in additional closure on entrance ramps at Harding Place and Haywood Lane. Authorities mentioned that both crash sites were expected to be cleared by 8:30 a.m. and were fully cleared by 9 a.m. The Metro Nashville Police Department later announced that 28-year-old John Baudendistel was charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication related to a multi-vehicle crash on I-24 East near the Bell Road exit. Investigations are ongoing to determine the sequence of events, as all vehicles involved were heading east on I-24 when the initial collision between a Subaru Crosstrek and a Honda Accord took place. Baudendistel was reportedly driving a Nissan Rogue, which struck a Nissan Sentra driven by a 51-year-old Murfreesboro woman, leading to her tragic death. Law enforcement officers noted signs of impairment in Baudendistel and he consented to a blood draw following a field sobriety test. He was booked into jail but released on bond later. Authorities are urging anyone with information on the hit-and-run drivers to contact Crime Stoppers.