NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A driver involved in a 2024 crash that killed a motorcyclist and a 3-year-old child on Interstate 40 in Bellevue has been charged following a lengthy investigation.
On August 18, 2024, officers responded to a crash involving a Buick sedan and motorcycle near mile marker 194.6 on I-40 West. The Buick driver, 45-year-old Delmas Wiseman, was booked into Metro jail with two counts of vehicular homicide on Jan. 19.
According to a Metro Nashville Police Department investigation, the Buick was traveling east on I-40 when the driver lost control and crossed over a gravel median into oncoming traffic. The motorcycle, which was traveling in the westbound lanes, struck the passenger side of the Buick.
Wiseman reportedly told officers he believed he had a tire blowout or hit a pebble, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. Investigators said the front passenger tire was damaged, but it could not be determined if the damage occurred before Wiseman lost control of the vehicle, or after the Buick skid across the median.
Data from the vehicle showed that Wiseman only engaged the brakes for approximately one second before letting off again. According to court documents, authorities determined Wiseman did not make any attempt to control the vehicle.
The motorcycle driver — identified as 30-year-old Jacob Rhea — and a 3-year-old backseat passenger of the sedan were declared dead after the crash. Two other juvenile passengers in the Buick, ages 5 and 6, were also injured and required immediate medical attention.
Investigators said the 3-year-old girl was the only juvenile seated in a child safety seat, however, it was not the correct seat. The two other children were only secured with seatbelts, which was not in compliance with state law.
Officials said Wiseman did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance at the time of the crash. He is detained in Metro jail on a $70,000 bond.
