NASHVILLE, TN. (THECOUNT) — Nyema Jackson, of Jackson, Tennessee, has been identified as one of two victims in a double-fatal Interstate 40 West Tennessee Healthcare ambulance crash Friday in Nashville.
Jackson, 36, was a patient riding in the back of the ambulance when the vehicle crashed after striking a rock wall while traveling on I-40 near Charlotte Pike, in Nashville Friday. The vehicle flipped and came to rest back in the travel lanes, according to police.
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Zachary Pruitt, 36, of Humboldt, who was a medic, was also killed after both victims were thrown from the vehicle when it struck a rock wall, according to a news release.
Authorities say the crash may have been caused by excessive speed on a wet roadway.
The ambulance driver, Deborah Schichtel, 55, of Holladay, sustained non-life threatening injuries. She told police that the ambulance hydroplaned before it hit the wall
All three of the ambulance occupants were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Jackson and Pruitt died at the hospital. The ambulance was affiliated with West Tennessee Health Care and Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. source
At the time of the crash, the ambulance was transferring Jackson to Vanderbilt, but lost control going into a curve and exited the roadway striking the wall.
Witnesses also told police that the ambulance sirens were not activated at the time of the violent crash.
Jackson and Pruitt were pronounced dead at the scene of blunt force trauma injuries consistent with the collision.
According to social media Jackson was the owner of Royal Nubian Hair.
Friends and family members took to Facebook to remember the beloved woman: