Colleagues, Community Rally GoFundMe for Nigerian Nurse Killed in US Wrong-Way Crash

Colleagues, Community Rally GoFundMe for Nigerian Nurse Killed in US Wrong-Way Crash

Colleagues, friends and members of the Nigerian community have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family of Oluwalayomi Fadero, a US-based Nigerian graduate nurse who died in a wrong-way crash while fleeing a police chase in Nashville, Tennessee.

The fundraiser was created by her friend, Presley Ann Craig, to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial support for the bereaved family. As of the latest update, the campaign has raised $17,197 out of a $28,000 target, reflecting widespread support from colleagues, friends and well-wishers.

Ms. Fadero, 23, was killed on Friday when a stolen vehicle driven by 52-year-old Ray Eugene Padgett reportedly collided with her car. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Padgett stole a Ford F-250 from a car lot in North Nashville around 9:30 a.m. before driving the wrong way at high speed on Murfreesboro Pike.

Police said the suspect, a parolee with an extensive criminal record, was attempting to evade law enforcement when he entered oncoming traffic and crashed into Ms. Fadero’s vehicle as she was turning into a subdivision near Hickory Drive. She was confirmed dead at the scene.

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Authorities further disclosed that Padgett, who reportedly has about 20 felony convictions across multiple Tennessee counties, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was later taken into custody. He is expected to face multiple charges, including criminally negligent homicide, vehicular homicide by recklessness, and driving on a revoked licence, with bail set at $805,000. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Ms. Fadero was a recent graduate of Fisk University and was reportedly pursuing an accelerated nursing programme at another institution at the time of her death. The university described her passing as devastating, expressing condolences to her family and offering counselling resources to students affected by the tragedy.

Tributes have continued to pour in from professors, classmates and friends who described her as compassionate, kind and dedicated to her studies and future career in healthcare. Former professor Janet Walsh described her as “one of the most compassionate and kindest” students she had taught, while classmates recalled her support during clinical rotations and her positive outlook on life.

Community members have also shared messages of grief and solidarity, highlighting both her personal impact and the broader loss felt within the Nigerian diaspora in the United States. Organisers of the GoFundMe campaign said the initiative aims to ease the financial burden on her family while honouring her memory and contributions.

The incident has also renewed conversations around road safety, police pursuits and accountability for reckless driving, particularly in cases involving stolen vehicles and high-speed chases in urban areas.

As the investigation continues, supporters are encouraging donations to the fundraiser and calling for justice, accountability, and measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Colleagues, Community Rally GoFundMe for Nigerian Nurse Killed in US Wrong-Way Crash