Nicole Gill, 30, of Nashville, was killed on her motorcycle over the Fourth of July weekend.
Gill, a member of the Unexplainable motorcycle club, died Friday night when her Suzuki sport bike allegedly struck an on-coming Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by 19-year-old Keith Otey of La Vergne, Tenn. Otey told officers that he was turning when the light was on a green arrow.
Speed and failure to stop for a red traffic light, according to the metro police department, appear to be contributing factors in the fatal crash on W. Trinity Lane at Brick Church Pike. Another witness reported Gill ran the red light.
Otey, meanwhile, was not injured.
Officers were told Gill was on her way to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville to check on a relative who had been hospitalized.
Amy Burns, who sometimes rode with Gill, said Gill had received a phone call that her brother was not breathing.
“She went to the hospital to see about him,” said Burns, who was still in disbelief.
“It was hard,” Burns said of learning of Gill's death. “ She was always smiling. I couldn’t believe it.
“It makes us want to be more careful riding. It lets us know things can happen to anybody.”
Burns said as soon as she learned of Gill’s accident, she rode to the deadly scene.
“When I got down there, the driver was still in the police car," Burns said. “He was pretty shaken up. He and the passenger. They kept him in the police car for the longest and then let him out.”
Burns said she got a chance to talk to the distraught driver.
“They said when (the accident) happened, they got out of the car and tried to check on her,” Burns said of the driver’s efforts. “It’s bad for a young kid to see. I asked him was he ok. He said ‘no I’m really not.’”
Burns said Gill probably had a lot on her mind if she did run the red light.
“She wasn’t in the right state of mind - trying to get to her brother,” she said.
Kedi Wilson, a club member and friend of Gill’s, said once Gill learned about her brother, she rushed out of the club before anyone could go with her.
“She left before I could get my keys. I was trying to leave with her, but she took off and left by herself.”
Wilson, who described Gill as a peacemaker, had nothing but good things to say about the mother of two children.
“She always tried to keep a smile - not just on her face - but everybody’s face. She always tried to keep things calm.”
Wilson said she wasn’t aware of the details surrounding the wreck.
“I didn’t get the full story of what happened. I don’t know that part of it,” Wilson said of Gill allegedly running a red light.
“We got a phone call stating she had a wreck. She had just left our event.
“It affected me hard. It affected us all hard.”
Comments
An Oh to familiar story. I've lost a few friends in bike accidents and it's always a hard lose. My prayers go out to the family and the MC community in Nashville.
Nicole worked with us for several years and was a wonderful person; she will be missed by all who knew her.
Let me point out, as an old biker, that there's a lesson here for all of us: Sometimes we need to look at the situation and say "I shouldn't ride now; I am not in the right frame of mind".
ride safe
Nicole was a great person, friend, mother, and rider. She will be sorely missed.
Nicole was a wonderful person inside and out and she was an amazing friend. She will be missed greatly by myself and everyone who knew her. Her memory will remain with me forever. I will keep her family in my thoughts and prayers. May God touch and heal the breaking hearts of her children and loved ones and keep them safe.
We talked everyday at work, about everything. I think she was a strength to me when I had none and I to her. I can honestly say that nothing can truly heal the numbness this has left me with. I can only pray for healing not only in my heart but in the hearts of all those who are impacted by such a loss of a mother, daughter, sister, friend, and co-worker. Time heals all wounds but, this earth will never regenerate the person who existed. I look at her number in my phone and know it will never ring again and am torn. Let us all just continue to pray, remembering how she touched our hearts, made us laugh, and we laughed so much, and just how she touched us in some way. There's strength in numbers and we can all be strong in spirit together. No more my friend... Everything we talked about, there's no more of it. I will be fine in time and I will see you hopefully again, so you can say to me, "Mel, you a damn fool..."
I worked with her at Gresham Smith and Partners. I loved her, she was honest and open. She did have a great smile and would make me laugh. I hope her children will be ok.
Is her brother ok?
Re: Dannys comment
This has certainly been a tragic time for our family. Thank you for your kind thoughts...Nicoles children will stuggle but we have a strong family and will be there for them ....Nicoles brother suffered respitory failure and is still in critical care...please remember him in your prayers as well.
MAMA I KNO IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT.......... I JUS KNO IT........ IMA WAIT UNTIL THAT BOY GO 2 COURT N IMA TRY 2 BEAT HIM IN THE COURT ROOM FOR KILLING MY MAMA....... I LOVE YOU MAMA ALWAYS
I am so sorry to hear about the lost of Nicole. I am praying for your family. I just heard about the tragic death of Nicole. Many years have passed since I have seen Nicole, yet in still my heart is heavy for the family and her beautiful children. During this time, keep the faith and hold on to God's unchanging hand. He can provide you much comfort during this trying time.
1st off to Robert i apologize for your loss but the person your moms hit was my Brother and that is the side of town where we are from he didn't deliberately hit your mother and i would ask of you please to not say things like that cause he has not Been the same since that happened you are not the only person who has lost people we have many friends and family that have died from violence and crashes also if he could take that Back we would But if he read what you said it would crush him to know you think of him as the murderer of your mother and that homeBoy just ain't real @ all so watch ya words!!!
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