RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS News) - A two-mile stretch of Interstate 840 in Rutherford County has been designated in memory of a 16-year-old Mt. Juliet High School student who lost his life in a multi-vehicle crash nearly two years ago.
The portion of I-840 between mile markers 53 and 55 is now designated the “Kyler Gatica Memorial Highway,” honoring the memory of Kyler Gatica, a Mt. Juliet resident remembered as a beloved son, friend and high school athlete. The designation memorializes the teenager near the area where his life was tragically cut short.
The crash occurred on October 12, 2024, as Kyler and his family were returning home to Mt. Juliet following a trip to Florida. They were reportedly about 30 minutes from home and traveling east toward Wilson County on I-840 when the crash occurred between Interstate 24 and Northwest Broad Street, also known as Highway 41 in Murfreesboro.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, vehicles were approaching traffic congestion when a Nissan Juke, driven by then-27-year-old Breanna Bishop, struck the rear of a Nissan Altima carrying Kyler and his parents, Matthew and Stephanie Gatica. The impact pushed the Altima into the rear of a Toyota Corolla, creating a chain-reaction crash. A GMC Yukon swerved onto the shoulder in an attempt to avoid the collision, but the Corolla struck the side of the Yukon.
Kyler was killed after the Altima was caught between the vehicles during the collision. His parents were injured but survived. Bishop was also injured, while occupants of the Corolla and Yukon did not sustain serious injuries.
Kyler was a student at Mt. Juliet High School and was known for his athletic abilities, including his involvement in volleyball and basketball. He was laid to rest shortly after the crash as family members, classmates, teammates and friends mourned the loss of the 16-year-old.
While authorities initially indicated that no charges had been filed immediately following the wreck, the investigation continued. Roughly two months after Kyler's death, Bishop was arrested by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and charged with vehicular homicide.
Rutherford County Court records indicate the criminal case remains pending. A plea hearing had previously been scheduled but was continued, with another hearing eventually moved to December 2026. The case has also been placed on the 2027 trial calendar as the judicial process continues and the possibility of a plea agreement remains open.
A pretrial motion hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, followed by a jury trial currently set for February 1, 2027, before Chancellor Howard Wilson.
Bishop, now 29, faces felony charges of vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence and reckless endangerment. She also faces misdemeanor charges involving a driver's duty to exercise due care and an alleged seat belt violation. The charges are allegations, and Bishop is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
While the criminal case continues through the Rutherford County judicial system, the newly named section of I-840 ensures Kyler's name will remain connected to the community where the fatal crash occurred. The “Kyler Gatica Memorial Highway” serves as a permanent tribute to a teenager whose trip home from a family vacation ended in tragedy just miles from his destination.
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