A father was killed in an accident in Nashville, Tennessee when his car was hit by a drag racer driving over 100 miles per hour.
According to the New York Post, Jacob Barnhardt, 34, was en route to his daughter’s softball game when the accident occurred. Barnhardt lost his life after being extricated from his car and rushed to the hospital by authorities.
Law enforcement blamed the drivers of two Dodge Chargers who were drag racing at speeds over 100 miles per hour when one of the cars lost control. One of the racers escaped the scene without being apprehended, but the police released a statement regarding the racer that they managed to catch, saying:
“Patrick Ewin, 31, of Nashville, is now jailed on a charge of vehicular homicide by recklessness for the death of Jacob Barnhardt of Clarksville.
“The investigation shows that Ewin was driving a 2017 Dodge Charger Hellcat southbound on Clarksville Pike at a speed estimated to have been in excess of 100 mph when he lost control and crossed into the northbound lanes. The Charger struck a Honda Insight sedan being driven by Barnhardt. The Charger then struck a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
“Barnhardt had to be extricated from the Honda. He was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died shortly after arrival. Ewin was transported to the hospital for minor injuries, then to jail. The driver of the pickup truck was uninjured.”
According to the New York Post, Barnhardt was a retired Army Special Forces Medic who served 18 years. His girlfriend, Kate Kastle, spoke to WEAU about Bernhardt’s character and the hole that has been left behind:
“He didn’t miss anything that had to do with the kids, ever. When I got the call from his daughter’s mom that he wasn’t at the game, and when my boy’s dad called asking if everything was OK because he didn’t pick up the boys, I just knew something happened.”
“They just ripped him away from us. He was leaving the job that he loved to go pick up the children that he loved.”
Bernhardt’s obituary speaks about the importance of his service to country and family, as shared by Clarksville Now:
“He was a defender of freedom and a protector of all. Jake devoted 15 years of his life to the United States Army, where he served as a Special Forces Combat Medic in 5th Special Forces Group. Out of all the accomplishments in Jake’s life, the family he created was his greatest. He was looking forward to being able to spend more time with his family after getting out of the Army.
“He served his country fearlessly, loved his family endlessly, and will be forever missed.”
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