A Nashville father on his way to his daughter’s softball game was killed Monday when a drag racer speeding at 100 mph lost control of his car, police said.
Jacob Barnhardt, 34, died shortly after he was extricated from his sedan and rushed to a nearby hospital. Kate Kastle, Barnhardt’s girlfriend, told WEAU, he was driving to pick up her two boys before heading to his daughter’s softball game after work at the time of the crash.
“They just ripped him away from us,” Kastle said. “He was leaving the job that he loved to go pick up the children that he loved.”
“He didn’t miss anything that had to do with the kids, ever. When I got the call from his daughter’s mom that he wasn’t at the game, and when my boy’s dad called asking if everything was OK because he didn’t pick up the boys, I just knew something happened.”
A driver in a Toyota pick-up was also struck in the three-car collision but wasn’t injured.
One of the drag racers fled the scene, while 31-year-old Patrick Ewin — who cops said was the driver who struck Barnhardt — sustained minor injuries, but was jailed on a charge of vehicular homicide by recklessness for Barnhardt’s death.A driver in a Toyota pick-up was also struck in the three-car collision but wasn’t injured.
One of the drag racers fled the scene, while 31-year-old Patrick Ewin — who cops said was the driver who struck Barnhardt — sustained minor injuries, but was jailed on a charge of vehicular homicide by recklessness for Barnhardt’s death.
Barnhardt's heartbroken girlfriend Kate Kastle told WEAU13 News was a wonderful father and partner, who was also her 'soulmate.'
On the day of the crash, she said he was driving to pick up her two boys before going to their daughter's softball game and that he 'never missed anything that had to do with their children. 'They just ripped him away from us,' said the grief-stricken Kastle.
Video surveillance shows the white Dodge Charger Hellcat racing another white Charger when it lost control and swerved into oncoming traffic, striking the driver’s side of the Honda, according to the arrest affidavit, WSMV News reported.
When emergency personnel arrived at the gruesome scene Barnhardt who was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be removed. He was rushed to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
The suspect, Ewin sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital before being booked into jail.
As of Friday afternoon the second driver in the deadly drag racing melee has not been located.
Barnhardt, a retired Army special forces combat medic served 18 years based at Fort Campbell, and was also a nurse, Kastle said.
She described her partner as the family's 'protector,' who always took care of her and the children, and was trying to process the unimaginable loss. On Wednesday a GoFundMe was created to help with funeral expenses and to provide financial support for the grieving blended family.
'Monday evening came as a swift and devastating surprise. The overwhelming pain of this loss will forever remain unparalleled,' Ashlee McBride, organizer of the fundraiser said.
'These thoughtful contributions may be allotted to funeral expenses that provide Jake the farewell he deserves, groceries for the family, miscellaneous bills acquired through the planning process, childcare, therapy, and any other costs associated with losing a loved one.'
As of Friday afternoon more than $42,000 has been raised towards their goal of $60,000.
Metro police are now asking anyone with information on the driver in the second vehicle to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.
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