Driver dies days after Elm Hill Pike crash near Ermac Drive; police continue investigation
What happened
A 48-year-old man has died after being injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Elm Hill Pike near Ermac Drive in Nashville. Police said the collision occurred at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2026, and the driver died on Thursday, Feb. 5, after being hospitalized.
The man who died was identified as David Lagrone. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center following the crash, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Preliminary findings from investigators
Investigators reported that Lagrone was driving a Mazda westbound on Elm Hill Pike and attempted a left turn when his vehicle entered the path of an oncoming Chevrolet Impala. The impact forced the Impala off the roadway, where it traveled into a parking lot and a grassy area before coming to rest upside down at the bottom of a creek.
The Impala’s driver, 23, and a passenger were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment and were released.
Impairment and charges
Police said there were no indications of impairment at the scene. As of Friday, Feb. 6, the investigation remained ongoing and no final determination had been announced about fault, citations, or potential charges.
The crash investigation remains open, with detectives continuing to review the circumstances of the collision.
Why the timeline matters
Fatal crashes are sometimes recorded as delayed deaths when a critically injured person survives long enough to reach a hospital but later dies from trauma-related complications. In this case, the death occurred several days after the collision, meaning investigators will typically rely on a combination of scene evidence, vehicle damage, witness statements, and medical findings to complete the case file.
Location context for drivers
Elm Hill Pike is a key east–west corridor serving the airport area and surrounding commercial properties, with multiple turning points into businesses, industrial sites, and side streets. Police have not released details on traffic controls at the precise turning location involved in this crash, or whether any surveillance or roadway video has been collected.
What is known so far
Crash location: Elm Hill Pike at Ermac Drive
Crash time/date: about 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2026
Fatality: 48-year-old David Lagrone, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026
Other injuries: two occupants of the Impala were treated and released
Investigation: ongoing; no signs of impairment reported at the scene
Additional details are expected once the crash investigation is completed and any determinations about contributing factors are finalized.