A Tennesee Dad lost his life running onto the freeway to retrieve a toy that his child had thrown out of the window.
Joshua Thomas Taylor was fatally struck by a truck on a Nashville freeway on Friday around 9 pm.
And this came as he tried to retrieve a toy that his child had thrown out of the window previously that evening.
According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the thirty-two-year-old dad was traveling southbound with his family, as per TooFab.
When the toy fell out of the window, the family continued home, but, the father returned at 9 pm, parking at the Harding Place ramp.
When a HELP truck from the Tennesee Department of Transportation spotted Taylor, they pulled over to offer him assistance.
But, he didn’t listen…
He instead ran across the interstate, jumped over the barrier, and ran to the northside of the freeway so that he could find his beloved child’s toy.
The HELP truck driver then heard a collision and rushed to the scene.
The father had been hit by a GMC Yukon truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement, the MNPD talked of the danger crossing an interstate on foot causes.
“The Nashville Police Department reminds all that it is illegal and inherently dangerous to walk on the interstate,” they said.
Many people took to social media to pay their respects for the father…
“It might not have been a lot of people’s first choice, but at the moment he thought he was doing something good for his child. It cost nothing to be kind. Very sad story,” one person wrote.
While another person said: “Stopping on the side of freeways is very dangerous. I understand he was trying to be a good dad but toys can be replaced, his life can’t.”
Another noted that they “feel bad for the child.”
“I feel bad for the child. They will grow up thinking it’s their fault their dad died,” they said.
And while many people said that they would have done it differently…
It’s important to remember that at the very moment he risked his life, the father just wanted to help his beloved child.
Adam Sandler said it best in Big Daddy, a film which I’m sure many dads related to:
“I know this is the right thing because I would die for this kid just so he won’t feel one ounce of sadness.”
The person who collided with Taylor will reportedly not be facing charges.
Our prayers go out to Joshua’s friends and family.
Rest in peace, Joshua Thomas Taylor.