Nashville police investigate hit-and-run that killed Tennessee State football player
Metro Nashville police are asking for the public's help in identifying the driver who hit and killed a Tennessee State football player overnight on Sunday.
Chazan Page, 20, of Nashville, was killed when he was struck by a either a red sedan or small sports utility vehicle, police said. Page was crossing Gallatin Pike near Marion Avenue when the incident occurred. A red car was seen leaving the scene at a high rate of speed, heading north on Gallatin Pike, police said.
The red car had significant front end damage, police said.
Page was taken to Skyline Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Page was an offensive lineman for Tennessee State University's football team. At 6-foot-1, 295 pounds, Page was a two-year starting offensive lineman at Tennessee State. He primarily played center and was one of only three offensive linemen who started every game in 2023.
"My thoughts and prayers are with our football student-athletes, coaches and families, and friends," TSU athletic director Mikki Allen said in a release. "[Page] helped bring out the best in others with his outstanding leadership on the and off the field, positive attitude and genuine care for people around him. It is extremely difficult to lose a member of our athletics family, and we morn the loss of Chazan."
Page had played Saturday in TSU's Blue and White Spring Game at Hale Stadium.
Page was an All-Region player at Lipscomb Academy in 2020.
"Moving to Nashville was an easy transition because of this guy and his family," former TSU football player Romello Tarver said in a Facebook post. "He made me hang out with him every day and get out of my comfort zone until it became a regular thing.
"I don’t make these kinda posts when people pass away or for even my own family members… but my boy Chazan Page was truly my homie. Whenever I was down he knew how to make me laugh and bring me right back to where I needed to be… them hard days in fall camp was always a fun moment cus he would find something to joke about. In the summer he would make get the studio once a week whether I was rapping or just being there with him and the rest of the 'Big Dawg' crew. I’m just happy I always told you I loved you broski! Fly high."
Lipscomb Academy coach Jamie Graham posted on X that he could find the right words:
"Please pray for the Page family," Graham wrote. "We will miss you Chazan."
Can’t even find the words ??. Please pray for the Page Family. We will miss you Chazan ????.
— Coach Jamie Graham (@CoachJamieG) April 14, 2024
Former Super Bowl quarterback and now University of Alabama at Birmingham head football coach Trent Dilfer posted on X asking the public to help find the hit-and-run driver.
"RIP Chazan," Dilfer wrote. "Prayers for the Page family."
?? RIP Chazan. Prayers for the Page family??. Please help the police track down the vehicle "a red sedan or small sports utility vehicle, police said" https://t.co/19d0a9SW3A
— Trent Dilfer (@DilfersDimes) April 14, 2024
Dilfer was his head coach at Lipscomb.
Police have asked anyone who knows about the incident to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Police said the calls will remain anonymous and that the callers may be eligible for a reward.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chazan Page, TSU football player, dies in Nashville hit-and-run