Nashville authorities are trying to track down a man facing multiple charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash that led to a girl’s death over the weekend.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville authorities are trying to track down a man facing multiple charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash that led to a girl’s death over the weekend.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), a 10-year-old girl and her 28-year-old mother were riding an electric scooter in the southbound bike lane of Nolensville Pike while heading north toward Paragon Mills Road on Saturday, Oct. 5. A speeding red Nissan reportedly entered the bike lane, hit the pair, and continued down Nolensville Pike without stopping.
Officials initially said the child was brought to Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with critical injuries while her mother was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
However, shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, authorities announced the girl — identified as 10-year-old Emily Sanchez-Ramirez — died at the hospital as a result of her injuries. In addition, the mother was upgraded to critical condition.
Three days later, MNPD said further investigation by its Traffic Unit led to the confirmed identification of 39-year-old Walter Daneris Zuniga — a native of Honduras who is also known as Daneri Verela — as the driver of the red Nissan Sentra responsible for Saturday evening’s deadly crash. That damaged vehicle was reportedly recovered at Zuniga’s Radnor Street home on Monday, Oct. 7 as a result of a Crime Stoppers tip.
According to police, investigators have obtained nine warrants against Zuniga, including vehicular homicide by reckless conduct, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, and evidence tampering.
If you have any information regarding Zuniga’s whereabouts, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.