Two passengers rescued from SUV after crashing with semi-truck

A man is facing multiple charges after a serious injury crash with a semi-truck that left two passengers trapped Thursday night (Aug. 22), closing parts of Memorial Blvd. for hours.

The preliminary investigation reveals, Rafael H. Guadarrama, 23, of Antioch, was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban southbound on Memorial Blvd., with the headlights off, when he collided with a semi-truck. The semi-truck, driven by Joseph Mezzacopo, of Clarksville, was attempting to turn left onto Memorial Blvd. from Medical Center Parkway when the collision occurred.

Guadarrama left the scene of the crash but was located by officers a block away crossing St. Clair Street. He was taken to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital by RCEMS.

Two passengers in the SUV, Sergio Vega-Perez, 35, and Rusbel Domingues, 28, were trapped and extricated from the vehicle by members of the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department MFRD). The passengers were initially treated on the scene by personnel with Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services (RCEMS). Vega-Perez was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center by helicopter and Domingues was transported by ambulance. Vega-Perez remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Mezzacopo was not injured.

Upon release from the hospital, Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT) investigators arrested Guadarrama for Driving Under the Influence, Violation of the Open Container Law, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with injuries, and Vehicular Assault (x2). He has been booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

The crash is under investigation by FACT.