Former Cumberland University student-athlete killed, 4 injured in Murfreesboro crash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - One person was killed and four others injured in a single-vehicle crash in Murfreesboro early Sunday morning, police said.

The Director of Athletics for Cumberland University, Ron Pavan, confirmed that the crash involved both current and former athletes, according to gocumberlandathletics.com.

“Unfortunately, the Cumberland University family has lost former student-athlete Marcus Webb to injuries sustained in the accident. Brandon Pace Jr. currently remains in critical condition while Jamir Johnson, Lamar Childress, and Jeremiah Matthews are all three in stable condition,” Pavan said in a statement to gocumberlandathletics.com.

Police said the crash occurred at the intersection of East Clark Boulevard and North Tennessee Boulevard at 1 a.m.

Webb, 22, of Lebanon, a front-seat passenger, died at the scene. The other occupants of the vehicle were taken to the hospital and treated for various injuries. The driver, Johnson, 24, of Perry, Georgia, is in stable condition along with passengers Childress, 22, and Matthews, 20, both of Nashville. Pace Jr., 20, also of Nashville, is in critical condition according to police.

Police said Johnson was driving a red Dodge Charger and failed to maintain the lane of traffic. The car left the right side of the road and hit a tree. Witnesses told police the driver was speeding, and the car did not have its headlights on. An open bottle of alcohol was found in the car.

Charges against the driver could be pending, according to police. The crash remains under investigation.

“As a team we are devastated,” said Tim Mathis, the head football coach for Cumberland University to gocumberlandathletics.com. “We are praying for healing and specifically that Brandon’s injuries are healed. We are also praying for the families involved and for each other.

Ron Pavan gave this full statement to gocumberlandathletics.com:

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we have notified all members of our cherished university- our students, faculty, and staff that five members of our campus community were involved in an extremely serious and fatal auto accident early Sunday morning in Rutherford County after our football game against Webber International.
Unfortunately, the Cumberland University family has lost former student-athlete Marcus Webb to injuries sustained in the accident. Brandon Pace Jr. currently remains in critical condition while Jamir Johnson, Lamar Childress, and Jeremiah Matthews are all three in stable condition. Although grief can be, and often is at times like these, an all-consuming emotion, it is not one which we must carry alone.
Football Head Coach, Tim Mathis shared his feelings with his team this afternoon, “As a team we are devastated. We are praying for healing and specifically that Brandon’s injuries are healed. We are also praying for the families involved and for each other.”
We are all extremely saddened at this news. The entire athletic department is devastated and our campus community is hurting. Our hearts and prayers are with the families, teammates, friends and loved ones of these students.
Please be assured that while we are working with the appropriate authorities to collect and subsequently disseminate all of the relevant factual information surrounding this incident, we are first and foremost working with the immediate family members of those involved in the accident. In difficult times like these, it is more important than ever to rise together in support of those who are hurting.
Sincerely,
Ron Pavan
Director of Athletics
Ron Pavan Director of Athletics at Cumberland University