MURFREESBORO, TN — A 10-year-old boy died after being struck by a ride-share vehicle on Middle Tennessee Boulevard near Silver Court on Friday night, according to Murfreesboro police.

Investigators said the crash happened around 8:52 p.m. just after the Jeep Gladiator turned right from Southeast Broad Street onto Middle Tennessee Boulevard. Police said the child had run across the road from Saint Karas Coptic Orthodox Church to get a soccer ball and was hit while heading back toward the church.

The boy suffered critical injuries and later died, police said. The driver was transporting a passenger at the time of the crash.

Police say the driver was working a ride-share trip at the time

Murfreesboro police confirmed the Jeep Gladiator was being used as an active ride-share vehicle when the collision occurred. That detail adds a commercial transportation element to a crash already under close review by investigators.

Police have not said anything about the passenger’s condition or whether the passenger played any role in the events leading up to the crash. The focus of the investigation remains on how the vehicle and the child came together in the roadway moments after the turn.

Authorities have also not released the driver’s name. No charges had been filed as of the latest update.

Fatal Accident Crash Team is reconstructing the collision

The Murfreesboro Police Department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team, known as FACT, responded to the scene to document evidence and reconstruct what happened. The specialized unit is used for serious injury and fatal traffic crashes.

Investigators are reviewing the scene, collecting evidence, and working to determine the sequence of events that led to the boy’s death. Police said the case remains active while that review continues.

The roadway was impacted for several hours after the collision as officers worked at the scene. Police have asked anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the department at 615-893-1311.

The crash shut down a busy stretch near Southeast Broad Street

The collision happened on a heavily traveled part of Middle Tennessee Boulevard between Southeast Broad Street and Bradyville Pike, an area that sees steady traffic from drivers and pedestrians.

Because of the seriousness of the crash, officers blocked the roadway while investigators and emergency responders handled the scene. Murfreesboro police said the closure lasted for hours Friday night.

Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services took the pedestrian to Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital for treatment after the crash. Police later identified the victim as a 10-year-old child.

Officials say pedestrian risk rises after dark

The crash comes amid broader safety concerns about pedestrian collisions after sunset. Highway safety data cited by local reporting shows that more than 65 percent of pedestrian fatalities happen in low-light conditions.

That same data says walking at night carries about three times the risk of daytime travel. Murfreesboro and Rutherford County have also seen pedestrian crashes rise over the past decade, according to local crash tracking figures.

One recent figure cited in those records showed 40 pedestrians struck by vehicles in a single year across the area. Police have not linked those numbers to this crash, but the fatal incident fits the pattern of nighttime danger on busy roads.

Community impact grows as police continue the investigation

The death of a child has deeply affected the community, especially because the crash happened near a familiar church and on a road many residents use every day. The loss has also renewed attention on driver awareness and pedestrian safety in the city.

Police have not released additional details about exactly how the collision unfolded or whether further enforcement action is likely. For now, the case remains under active review by FACT investigators.

Officials say more information may be released after the crash team finishes its reconstruction work and gathers additional evidence. Until then, the focus remains on understanding the moments before the fatal impact.