HERMITAGE, TN — A road rage incident in Hermitage escalated into a dangerous exchange of gunfire between two drivers late Tuesday night, resulting in one man fleeing the scene after crashing his car into an embankment.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), officers responded to a crash report on Central Pike near the 4000 block, where they found an abandoned car that had collided with an embankment near a house. Investigators determined the crash was the culmination of a road rage altercation between two men, one driving a car and the other a truck.

The confrontation began as the drivers argued while navigating Central Pike. The driver of the car reportedly fired the first shot, with the bullet passing through the door of the truck and grazing the truck driver’s stomach. In response, the injured man returned fire at the car while pursuing the driver down Central Pike. The chase ended when the car careened off the road and crashed into the embankment.

After the collision, the driver of the car fled the scene on foot and is still at large. Authorities are actively searching for him, but no charges are expected to be filed against the truck driver, who acted in self-defense following the initial gunfire.

In situations where you’re fired upon, as in this incident, returning fire may be your only option to protect yourself from imminent harm. The truck driver had every right to defend himself after being shot at and injured. When faced with a direct and immediate threat to your life, self-defense is justified. However, it’s always important to be mindful of your surroundings and avoid confrontations whenever possible, but when a situation escalates this quickly, protecting yourself becomes the priority.