NASHVILLE, TN — Former Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan was arrested in Nashville after police said his pickup truck struck two pedestrians downtown and left the scene. Metro Nashville Police say the crash happened late Nov. 4 near Fourth Avenue and Broadway, where the two people were crossing with the walk signal.
The Facts
- What: Police say a pickup truck struck two pedestrians in a downtown Nashville intersection and then left the scene.
- Where: Fourth Avenue and Broadway in Nashville.
- When: Late Nov. 4, according to police.
- Who: Rex Ryan, the former Buffalo Bills and New York Jets head coach, was arrested after turning himself in.
- Charges: Two counts each of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to give information or render aid, and failure to obey a traffic control signal.
- Status: A judicial commissioner set bond at $6,000, and police said Ryan turned himself in Wednesday.
What police say
WSMV, citing Metro Nashville Police, reported that the pedestrians were crossing Broadway with the signal when Ryan’s truck turned right from Fourth Avenue. Police said the vehicle ran over both people’s feet and hit one person’s leg before continuing west on Broadway.
According to police, the truck stopped at a red light after the collision. The pedestrians waved Ryan down, and investigators say he got out of the pickup and argued with them before getting back in and driving away.
Ryan later surrendered to the Metro Nashville Police Department. The account places the crash in a busy downtown area with multiple lanes of traffic and pedestrian crossings, where drivers are expected to obey signals and stop after a collision.
The investigation
Police have not publicly described any additional injuries beyond the reported foot and leg impacts. In cases like this, investigators typically review witness statements, nearby video, traffic-signal timing and any physical evidence from the scene to reconstruct how a collision happened.
When a driver is accused of leaving after a crash, officers also look at whether the person stopped to exchange information or render aid, as Tennessee law requires. Those details often become central to the case because they can show what the driver knew and whether help was offered.
No tip line was included in the broadcast account. Even so, police often continue to gather statements from anyone who saw the crash or the interaction that followed, especially in a busy entertainment district where pedestrians and vehicles are moving at the same time.
What the charges mean
Leaving the scene of an accident generally means a driver is accused of not remaining at the crash site after a collision. Failure to give information or render aid usually refers to not providing identifying details or assistance to anyone who may have been hurt.
Failure to obey a traffic control signal is a traffic offense tied to not following a red light, stop signal, or other direction from a signal device. Prosecutors still have to prove each count with evidence gathered by police and any testimony from witnesses.
A bond set by a judicial commissioner allows a defendant to secure release while the case moves forward. Bond is not a finding of guilt; it is a court-ordered amount meant to ensure the accused appears for later hearings.
What happens next
Ryan’s case is expected to move through the Nashville court system, where an initial hearing or arraignment would normally address the charges and next scheduling steps. At that stage, the court can also revisit bond conditions if needed.
For now, the allegations remain just that: allegations. Any resolution will depend on the evidence, the prosecutor’s decisions and how the case is handled in court.
Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
