New details released in hit-and-run crash that killed Nashville business owner

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Metro Nashville police have released new details in the hit-and-run crash that killed Smokin Thighs owner Matthew Carney.

On Thursday, MNPD arrested Ulises Martinez following a manhunt and hours later, charged him with criminal homicide and evidence tampering in Carney’s death.

Carney was critically injured on June 19 when he was slung from a pickup truck as it was being driven away from the rear of the restaurant onto Wedgewood Avenue, police said. He later succumbed to his injuries on July 4.

Martinez was identified as a person wanted for question in Carney’s death. He was also wanted on an outstanding auto theft warrant, police said. Martinez was taken into custody on Thursday morning at a motel on Metroplex Drive in South Nashville.

“During an interview at police headquarters this afternoon, Martinez admitted that he and an associate, Adrian Diaz, were driving through the Smokin Thighs lot when they stopped to steal tools from Carney’s pickup truck. He said Carney came out, confronted them, and attempted to stop the Frontier from leaving. Carney wound up on the hood of the Frontier and was slung off as it turned onto Wedgewood Avenue,” MNPD said.

Diaz is currently in custody in Williamson County on charges of evading arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. Martinez is being held in the Downtown Detention Center without bond pending a hearing.

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