NASHVILLE, TN — A woman died after a crash last Saturday in North Nashville, and police say the driver was her husband, who had previously been convicted in a deadly vehicular manslaughter case tied to a DUI crash more than a decade ago.
Police identified the woman as 35-year-old Emily Dollarhide. Investigators said she was riding as a passenger in a Ford Mustang when it hit a Dodge Ram pickup truck near the Briley Parkway intersection on Ashland City Highway.
Authorities said the Mustang was being driven by Carl Dollarhide, 31, and that he was speeding at the time of the wreck. Emily Dollarhide was not wearing a seat belt and later died at the hospital.
Police say Mustang struck pickup during U-turn on Ashland City Highway
According to Nashville police, the pickup truck was making a U-turn when the Mustang collided with it near Briley Parkway. The crash happened on Ashland City Highway, a busy corridor in North Nashville where traffic movements can be especially hazardous.
Police said both drivers were wearing seat belts. That detail stands in contrast to Emily Dollarhide, who was not restrained and later died from her injuries after being taken to the hospital.
The preliminary investigation also found no signs that either driver was impaired. At this stage, investigators have not said whether any other traffic violation beyond speeding played a role in the collision.
Carl Dollarhide’s prior conviction stems from a deadly 2015 DUI crash
This was not the first deadly crash involving Carl Dollarhide. Police and court records cited in the reporting show that he pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter charges after a fatal DUI crash in 2015, when he was 20 years old.
That earlier wreck killed a mother and left her young daughter paralyzed. After the conviction, Dollarhide was sentenced to three years in prison and eight years of probation.
As part of that sentence, he was also ordered not to drive while on probation. The earlier case adds a difficult layer to the current investigation because it involves the same driver and another fatal crash.
No charges filed yet as investigators prepare case for district attorney review
Police said no charges have been filed in connection with the North Nashville crash so far. The investigation is still active, and officers said the findings will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office once it is complete.
That means prosecutors will ultimately review the evidence and decide whether any criminal charges are appropriate. For now, officials have released only preliminary findings about speed, seat belt use and impairment.
Investigators have not publicly said what additional evidence they are examining, including whether crash reconstruction or witness statements could affect the outcome. The case remains open as police continue gathering information.
Crash adds urgency to North Nashville road safety concerns
The wreck is likely to draw attention because it involved a fatal collision in a heavily traveled part of the city and because police say the driver had a serious prior conviction. The combination raises renewed concern about the consequences of speeding and seat belt use on local roads.
Emily Dollarhide’s death also underscores how quickly a crash can turn deadly for a passenger, even when drivers are restrained. Police said she was not wearing a seat belt, and that fact became central to the outcome after she was taken to the hospital.
While the investigation continues, authorities have not announced any broader safety changes tied to the crash. For now, the case remains focused on the circumstances of this single wreck and the history of the driver behind the wheel.
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