UPDATE: Fatal Sunday Night I-24 Crash Believed Suicide

Mar 06, 2017 at 05:25 pm by bryan


Here's an update on the fatal Sunday night accident on I-24 eastbound (toward Chattanooga) at New Salem Highway (exit 80). Murfreesboro police say the tragedy was suicide related.

On Monday afternoon, Murfreesboro Police Sgt. Kyle Evans told NewsRadio WGNS that the deceased woman was 47-year old Miriam Elizabeth Horist of 912 Berry Place in Murfreesboro.

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Murfreesboro Police have not released details as to whether or not Horist jumped from the New Salem Highway bridge or if she walked into the traffic.

Evans also wrote in an email, "At this point her death appears to be the result of suicide, however, the investigation is still open and ongoing."

Past few months have equaled three deaths on I-24 by way of suicide:

On February 27, 2017, a woman jumped to her death from a bridge in LaVergne that was also over interstate 24. In that case, police say that after she jumped it was learned that her son was dead of a gunshot wound in his Smyrna apartment. That case remains open at this time with the mother being a possible suspect in her sons death.

In November of 2016, a man was found hanging from the South Church Street bridge that goes over I-24 in Murfreesboro. That too was reported as being a suicide.

Suicide Facts in Tennessee:

  • Yearly deaths by suicide are about twice that of deaths by homicide - in 2012 (most recent recorded year released), there were 956 suicides (or 14.8 per 100,000 residents) in Tennessee, compared with 456 homicides (or 7.1 per 100,000 residents). This rate also places Tennessee much higher than the national rate of 10.8 suicides per 100,000 residents. More facts here.

Having thoughts of harming yourself?

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Crisis Line at (855) CRISIS-1 (274-7471) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and connects callers to their local provider for mental health and/or substance use crisis services.

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