Fatal Madison crash raises concerns about pedestrian safety on Gallatin Pike North

Police are investigating the death of Christopher Exum, 51, who was struck by vehicles while crossing Gallatin Pike North near the McHenry Center in Madison early Wednesday morning. The crash has raised concerns about pedestrian safety at an intersection without marked crosswalks or pedestrian signals.

According to police, a pickup truck hit a grocery cart Exum was pushing, knocking him into the roadway. The pickup driver stopped and called 911. A sedan and a motorcycle subsequently ran over Exum, and neither operator stopped. Police said there were no signs that the pickup driver was impaired. Light rain or drizzle was falling when the crash occurred.

Judith Krisell, who uses WeGo public transit and frequently walks along this section of Gallatin Pike North, said the nearby stores bring her to the area regularly. Learning about the crash has made her worry about her own safety and left her less comfortable walking there. “I feel like that could possibly happen to me someday,” she said.

Police confirmed that the intersection where Exum died has no marked pedestrian crossing or pedestrian signals. The closest crosswalk is near Myatt Drive. Krisell said people often cross near the McHenry Center instead, especially to reach nearby bus stops, because they do not want to walk to the more distant crossing. Following the fatal crash, she said she expects to use the crosswalks.

Nashville’s Choose How You Move website identifies a signal upgrade at Gallatin Pike and McHenry Center for 2027. November 5 marked two years since voters approved the program, which pays for transportation and safety improvements throughout Nashville. NewsChannel 5 contacted the Nashville Department of Transportation to ask whether plans for the location include a new pedestrian crossing.

In its response, NDOT said Gallatin Pike belongs to its Vision Zero high injury network and is a leading priority for safety spending. The department pointed to work at several locations along the corridor, including the Gallatin Main Safety project in East Nashville and Inglewood. It also said a sidewalk project on the north and west sides between Alta Loma and Liberty is in an early development phase.

NDOT said the crash location will be included in the longer-term Gallatin All Access Corridor work north of Briley Parkway funded through Choose How You Move. A specific timetable for that project has not been set. The program will work with TDOT on safety and mobility concerns along the corridor.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the sedan driver or motorcycle rider who left the scene to contact the Traffic Division at 615-862-7738.