9 injured after distracted driver crashes into pedal tavern, police say

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) — A distracted driver rear-ended a pedal tavern, injuring multiple people Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nine of the 12 passengers were injured after the distracted driver hit the pedal tavern, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The crash happened when a westbound Toyota RAV4 rear-ended the pedal tavern around 8:30 p.m. on Demonbreun Street in downtown Nashville, police said.

At least two of the nine passengers suffered serious injuries, according to police. The driver of the RAV4 and the operator of the pedal tavern were not hurt.

Six patients were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, according to a public information officer with the hospital. Five of those patients are considered stable, and one was in critical condition.

Driver reported being distracted

The Metro Nashville Police Department said the RAV4 driver reported that he was distracted at the time of the crash. Police said they are not sure what distracted the driver.

Police spokesperson Kris Mumford said the injured passengers were an “older crowd,” but she was unsure where the victims are from.

Mumford said crashes involving pedal taverns are not common, adding that this is the first one she knew of.

“Of course it’s something you do worry about, but we’ll be investigating it, talking to the driver, and all of the patients have been transported to area hospitals. We hope they all recover well,” Mumford said.

The crash is under investigation.