Man wanted for questioning after deadly Smokin Thighs hit-and-run crash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has released the name and photo of a man wanted for questioning following a hit-and-run that claimed the life of a local restaurant owner.

MNPD released the new information on Thursday, July 11, the same day as the funeral services and candlelight vigil for the owner of Smokin Thighs, 42-year-old Matt Carney.

Authorities are seeking the public’s help finding 24-year-old Ulises Martinez, an accused auto thief strongly believed to have information about Carney’s death. MNPD also issued an arrest warrant charging him with the June 19 theft of a pickup truck from a Franklin Pike church.

On Wednesday afternoon, Specialized Investigations Division detectives working to locate Martinez spotted him get into the back seat of a car in the parking lot of a Bell Road motel.  When detectives tried to stop the vehicle, the driver took off at a high rate of speed.  An MNPD helicopter monitored the car as it pulled into a dead end gravel roadway in the 9700 block of Concord Road in Williamson County.  The three occupants of the vehicle fled into the woods between Concord Road and Brunswick Drive.  With the assistance of Brentwood Police, two of the men were apprehended.  Martinez was not.

MNPD

The driver of that car, 25-year-old Francisco Martinez-Lopez, has been charged in Nashville with felony evading arrest, according to officials. His bond has been set at $2,500.

The second person arrested was confirmed to be 31-year-old Adrian Diaz, who is charged in Williamson County with evading arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond has been set at $26,000.

Carney reportedly suffered major head trauma when he was hit in the parking lot of his popular restaurant on June 19. He died from his injuries at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) on July 4.

A candlelight vigil has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Smokin Thighs to celebrate Carney’s life and pray for justice in the investigation. Carney had opened the Wedgewood-Houston restaurant in 2014 after starting the business as a food truck in 2012.

In a previous press release, MNPD released surveillance video of the truck suspected of hitting the restaurant owner. On June 29, police found the suspect vehicle — a Nissan Frontier pickup truck — in the parking lot of the LaQuinta Inn on Sidco Drive and impounded it. Officials said the truck had been spray painted and had a temporary tag.

If you want to help Carney’s family in the aftermath of his death, you are asked to donate to this GoFundMe , contribute to this Meal Train , or visit Smokin Thighs and support the business. The restaurant will be closed all day Thursday so those close to Carney can attend the funeral and prepare for the vigil.

Anyone with information about Martinez’s whereabouts is asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 . Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.

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