Officer John Anderson Killed By Teen Driver On Suspended License

Moms.com

Police Officer Killed When Unlicensed Teen Driver Crashes Into Car

By Elisa Cinelli

Published Jul 9, 2019

A police officer died tragically after an unlicensed teen crashed into his vehicle early on July 5 in Nashville, Tennessee.

A police officer died tragically after an unlicensed teen crashed into his vehicle early on July 5 in Nashville, Tennessee. At three o'clock in the morning, Officer John Anderson was responding to a call about a person standing in traffic. As he drove his police cruiser towards the scene; however, it was Anderson himself who was harmed.

Officer Anderson was struck and killed by a 17-year-old female who was driving on a suspended licensed and out past curfew. The teen was actually evading another cop who attempted to stop her for lane violation when she hit Anderson. She suffered minor injuries, for which she has been treated and released. Her passenger, 18-year-old Antona Esaw, is being treated for critical injuries at Skyline Medical Center.

According to the police, the teen driver was due to appear in court on Friday at 2:30. She is charged with vehicular homicide by recklessness, felony evading arrest, aggravated assault by recklessness, driving on a suspended license, and juvenile curfew violation. She is being charged as a minor.

A US Marine Corps member, Anderson served the Nashville police force's Central Precinct for four years. He also played the bagpipes on the department's Drill and Ceremony Team. Father to an eighteen-month-old boy, Anderson had been planning to propose to his current girlfriend. According to the girlfriend's sister, Anderson was just as devoted to her son and his. Tragically, they never got the chance to join their families.

It is always a shame when a police officer is killed in the line of duty. Misfortunes like this one, of course, come with the territory, but that doesn't make them any less tragic. It is even sadder when children lose a parent in this way.

According to friends and family, the 28-year-old officer was completely devoted to protecting the citizens of Nashville. He is also remembered as a true friend and a family man who motivated others around him to push themselves to do their best.