PLEASANT VIEW, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A Fort Campbell soldier was hit and killed on Highway 41-A in Cheatham County Sunday night.
Detective Jeff Landis with the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office said the soldier, 21-year-old Austin McGeough, was drinking at a home with some of his friends before the incident. He was also snorting Percocet prescribed to him following wisdom teeth surgery.
WKRN News 2 reports that for an unknown reason, McGeough left his group of friends at the home and wandered a short distance to Pleasant View Nursery and Florists where investigators say he broke through the back door and pulled over shelves loaded with jams and jellies. Detectives said he may have been swarmed by wasps, though the owners of the nursery adamantly deny that.
While still in the nursery, McGeough made a series of rambling calls to 911 asking for help before cancelling the request.
In one of the calls, McGeough states that someone is stalking him.
“They’re stalking me right now. I swear to God. I walked into the woods. People who wanted to stalk… oh my God, never mind,” he tells the operator.
After making the call to 911, the Fort Campbell soldier left the nursery, leaving behind his wallet and cell phone. Police said nothing was stolen.
It still is unknown why McGeough strayed out onto Highway 41A. Investigators said he stood on the yellow line and when the BMW came toward him, he reportedly leaned into it.
Detectives said there was no way for the 18-year-old driver to avoid hitting him. No charges have been filed.
While the driver was calling 911, two other vehicles ran over McGeough’s body. Investigators would like to speak to these individuals.
McGeough, who was from Connecticut, was an E-4 specialist and had been stationed at nearby Fort Campbell for the last 17 months.
*WKRN News 2 contributed to this report