UPDATED: NASHVILLE, TN - WGNS has new information about the tragic crash in Nashville that left a Murfreesboro woman dead early Sunday morning. Metro Police have now identified the victim as 51-year-old Angela Dawn Loupe, who was driving a Nissan Sentra at the time of the four-vehicle collision on I-24 East near the Bell Road exit.

More details have also been released about the driver accused of causing the deadly crash. 28-year-old John Baudendistel has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication. According to officials, Baudendistel is employed by Rutherford County Schools as a band director at La Vergne Middle School, a position he has held for at least a year while working for the county schools since August 2023.

The crash occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday. Police say all four vehicles involved were heading east, towards Murfreesboro, on I-24 when the initial collision happened between a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek and a 2003 Honda Accord. Both drivers fled on foot, leaving their vehicles behind. Investigators found evidence of alcohol use in both abandoned cars.

According to Metro Police, Baudendistel was driving a Nissan Rogue when he allegedly struck Loupe’s Nissan Sentra from behind. It appears Loupe may have been slowing down to avoid the first crash involving the hit-and-run drivers. She was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.

Officers at the scene reported that Baudendistel showed signs of impairment, including glossy, red eyes and slurred speech. He reportedly admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash, and police found an open container in the Rogue’s center console. Baudendistel also displayed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests and consented to a blood draw. He was later released on a $25,000 bond.

Regarding his employment, Rutherford County School policies state that when a teacher is charged with a serious crime, especially one involving alcohol or homicide, they are typically placed on immediate paid administrative leave pending the outcome of legal proceedings and an internal review. While on leave, the school district investigates to determine whether the employee has violated any district policies or the RCS Code of Ethics. If the employee is cleared, they may return to work. If convicted, further action — including potential termination — is decided by Human Resources based on the final outcome of the court case or trial.

Did You See Anything or Have Information on the Crash? Meanwhile, Metro Nashville Police are asking for the public’s help to identify the two drivers who fled the scene of the initial crash. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

Previous Report Filed on Monday: The woman killed in Sunday’s four-vehicle collision is identified as Angela Dawn Loupe, 51, of Murfreesboro.

John Baudendistel, 28, is charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication for Sunday's 4 a.m. multi-vehicle crash on I-24 East near the Bell Road exit that killed the 51-year-old female driver of a Nissan Sentra. Efforts are underway to notify her next of kin.

While the exact order of events is still under investigation, all four involved vehicles were traveling east on I-24 when it appears that the first collision occurred between the driver of a 2015 Suburu Crosstrek and the driver of a 2003 Honda Accord. Both of those drivers fled on foot, leaving their vehicles behind. There was evidence of alcohol involvement in both the Suburu and the Honda Accord.

A Nissan Rogue, driven by Baudendistel, struck the victim's Sentra from behind. It appears that she may have been slowing to avoid the initial collision between the hit and run drivers. The driver of the Nissan Sentra, who was from Murfreesboro, was transported to Vanderbilt where she died.

Officers who first responded to the scene observed that Baudendistel had glossy, red eyes, and slurred speech. He admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages prior to the crash. An open container of an alcoholic beverage was in the Rogue's center console. Baudendistel showed signs of impairment during standard field sobriety tasks and consented to a blood draw. He is free on $25,000 bond.

Anyone with information about the two hit and run drivers is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

PREVIOUS NEWS STORY Directly After Crash: NASHVILLE, TN - A Murfreesboro woman is dead after a tragic multi-vehicle crash on I-24 East near Bell Road in Nashville early Sunday morning. Metro Nashville Police say the deadly chain-reaction wreck happened around 4 a.m. and involved four vehicles.

According to investigators, a collision first occurred between a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek and a 2003 Honda Accord. Police say both drivers fled the scene on foot, leaving behind evidence of alcohol use in their vehicles.

Moments later, a secondary crash took place when a Nissan Rogue, driven by 28-year-old John Baudendistel, rear-ended a Nissan Sentra that appeared to be slowing down to avoid the initial wreck. The 51-year-old Sentra driver, a Murfreesboro woman, was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center but later died from her injuries. Her name has not been released as police work to notify her family.

Officers said Baudendistel admitted to drinking before the crash and showed multiple signs of impairment, including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. An open alcoholic beverage was found in his car’s center console, and he consented to a blood draw at the scene.

Baudendistel has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication. He was booked and later released on a $25,000 bond.

Police are still investigating the exact order of events and searching for the two hit-and-run drivers who fled the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.