A police pursuit that began in Murfreesboro early this (Thursday) morning ended in a fatal crash in Warren County, claiming the lives of two people.
The incident began on South Church Street around 4AM when police say 24-year-old Brandon James, formally of Murfreesboro, carjacked a vehicle from a Waffle House. The stolen truck was later found in Warren County, but details on what happened next are still unclear.
Officials only confirmed that James switched to another vehicle, prompting a pursuit involving multiple agencies including McMinnville Police, the Warren County Sheriff's Office, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The chase came to a horrific end when James's vehicle struck 61-year-old Phyllis Prater’s car head-on. Both she and James died at the scene. Prater was a beloved member of the Southern Middle Tennessee community, owner of Prater's BBQ in McMinnville and Manchester and wife of Warren County Commissioner Gary Prater.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what led to the crash, but they emphasized that James's actions put many lives in danger. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the District Attorney’s office continue to investigate.
District Attorney General for the 31st Judicial District Chris Stanford released a statement:
"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm that Warren County lost a pillar of our community early this morning, Mrs. Phyllis Prater. Mrs.Prater and her husband, Gary Prater, have long served our community with their public service, kind generosity and philanthropic work. Mrs. Prater will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.
It is necessary to note that a preliminary review of the available evidence reveals that officers and deputies with the City of McMinnville Police Department and Warren County Sheriff's Department handled themselves with the highest level of expertise and integrity during the dangerous situation which appears to have threatened serious bodily injury or death to officers and deputies with both departments this morning.
My prayers, condolences and support are with Mrs. Prater’s family and friends, and all of Warren County which will be forever scarred by this tragic incident. Warren County is full of loving and supportive people that care for each other. We plead with the community to all try and put our differences aside for a time and join together with me and others in offering our thoughts, prayers and support to the Prater family as they grieve their tremendous loss.
Rumors and speculation can run rampant in our community, at times. However, this is an opportunity for our community to show what we are made of and unite with one another for the best interest of the Prater family and our community. Please also join with law enforcement as we collectively respect the Prater family’s privacy and continue to seek the facts of this incident through further investigation."
