Father Killed By Driver While Trying To Retrieve Child’s Favorite Toy From Interstate

A Nashville family is mourning the loss of a beloved father who was killed while trying to retrieve his child’s favorite toy from a freeway.

Joshua Thomas Taylor and his family were traveling on I-65 south Thursday night when his young child tossed his toy out the window onto the freeway. At around 9:00 p.m., the devoted father went back looking for the plaything, determined to return it to his son. He parked his vehicle at an off-ramp and began walking along the interstate, looking for it. Tennessee Department of Transportation HELP truck drivers made contact with Taylor and started talking to him. However, at some point, he dashed across the interstate and jumped over the barrier to the northbound side. TDOT Help truck drivers began traveling to the opposite side of the interstate to follow Taylor when they heard him being impacted by a GMC Yukon.

The 32-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, who has not been publicly identified, stayed at the location and was not speeding, nor was he intoxicated. Taylor leaves behind his wife, Esther, and children, 13-year-old Brenna and 2-year-old Noble. He and his wife were also expecting their third child together.

A GoFundMe was established for the family to offset funeral costs. As of Wednesday, it had raised over $34,000.