Mary Celestine, 62, is the alleged hit and run driver in Monday’s 3:40 a.m. fatal collision on Clarksville Pike near Buena Vista Pike that killed pedestrian Courtney Barnes, 24.
Barnes’ boyfriend, Derrick McKinney, reported that they were both on the sidewalk along the westbound lanes of Clarksville Pike when Barnes told him that she was going to walk across the roadway to buy a drink at a convenience store. The victim left her bicycle with McKinney. She was crossing Clarksville Pike, outside of a crosswalk, when she was struck. The driver did not stop. Barnes was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she died.
Celestine drove a 2000 Chevrolet Impala to Vanderbilt where she works in the food preparation division. Another employee noticed significant front end damage to the car, consistent with a car striking a pedestrian, and notified police. During an interview, Celestine made statements implicating herself in the fatal crash. There was no evidence of drug or alcohol involvement on Celestine’s part.
Celestine is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, failure to render aid, and failure to file an accident report. Celestine, of Manchester Avenue, is free on $10,500 bond.
