NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A woman told a 911 dispatcher former Titans kicker Rob Bironas was driving erratically just before his SUV crashed. Additionally, two students at nearby Belmont College said Bironas threatened them and tried to sideswipe their vehicle before they were able to speed away from him. Minutes later, Bironas, 36, had crashed his own vehicle and died.
The 911 call was obtained Monday by several media outlets, including The Tennessean newspaper.
Rob Bironas (Getty Images)
The woman told the dispatcher neither she nor her husband recognized the man who drove up behind them. She says he pulled his SUV up beside their vehicle and gave them a look before speeding away. The woman told the dispatcher the man was dangerous and police needed to know something was wrong with him.
"We let him go on past us because he was trying to run me off the road and we don't know who he was," the woman told the dispatcher.
Before that alleged encounter, 20-year-old Connor Fraley said that he was one of three passengers in a truck that met up with Bironas at an intersection about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Fraley said he noticed a burning smell coming from Biroanas' vehicle.
"His window was down, and we pulled up and I said, "Hey man, just a heads up, something's burning from your exhaust. Your exhaust smells horrible, just wanted to let you know,'' Fraley, speaking to The Tennessean, recalled telling Bironas. "He looked over at me and said "I'm going to kill everybody in your (expletive) vehicle. It was so random, so bizarre I was like, "What?" And he said the exact same thing again."
Fraley said the driver of the truck he was in turned and drove away, but Bironas followed them. As they began to speed up to get away, he gave chase and in an attempt to hit their truck, "missed us by a foot." Fraley said they reached a speed of 110 miles per hour to escape. He called 911, as well. The next morning, Fraley said his roommate texted him a photo of Bironas.
"As soon as I saw that face," he said. "I know for a fact that it was Rob Bironas in that vehicle chasing us."
Later, it appears Bironas encounted the couple who called 911 after they said he give them a dirty look and tried to run them off the road. At one point, the husband got out of the car to confront Bironas, who then accelerated at a high rate of speed. A few minutes later, as they continued to travel on Battery Lane, they came upon Bironas' crashed vehicle. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
A Metro Nashville police spokesman says the accident investigation is ongoing. An autopsy was performed.
The Tennessean reported Monday night Bironas' wife reported him missing to police Saturday night.
Police said he was speeding when he lost control in a curve and that there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs at the scene.
The Titans released Bironas in March after nine seasons. Bironas worked out for Tampa Bay during the offseason and worked out last week for the Detroit Lions, who announced Monday they plan to sign former Eagles kicker Alex Henery.
Bironas married Rachel Bradshaw, daughter of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, in June.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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