The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a possible but unconfirmed pedestrian fatality that happened late Tuesday night in the area of Merchant Drive and Central Avenue Pike.  

At around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, KPD officers responded to the aforementioned location, where an adult man was found unresponsive on the sidewalk. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to KPD Crime Scene Technicians, Medical Examiner’s Office personnel responded to the scene but were unable to make a preliminary determination concerning cause of death.  

Responding officers located a vehicle nearby that had crashed off of the roadway. The driver was detained at the scene and interviewed by KPD detectives and crash reconstruction personnel.

The investigation remains active and ongoing at this time.