Man believed to have info about deadly Smokin Thighs hit-and-run crash spotted in Chattanooga area

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Nearly a month after a beloved business owner was hit by a pickup truck outside of his popular Wedgewood-Houston restaurant, authorities in the Chattanooga area announced they are searching for a man wanted for questioning in connection with that hit-and-run.

Matt Carney, 42, reportedly suffered major head trauma when he was hit in the parking lot of his restaurant, Smokin Thighs, on June 19. He died from his injuries at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on July 4, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

On June 29, police said they found the suspect vehicle — a Nissan Frontier pickup truck, which had been spray painted and had a temporary tag — in the parking lot of the LaQuinta Inn on Sidco Drive.

Then, on Thursday, July 11, MNPD asked for the public's help finding 24-year-old Ulises Martinez, an accused auto thief strongly believed to have information about Carney’s death. Authorities also issued an arrest warrant charging him with the June 19 theft of a pickup truck from a Franklin Pike church.

MNPD said detectives from its Specialized Investigations Division detectives who were working to find Martinez spotted him getting into the backseat of a car outside of a Bell Road motel on Wednesday, July 10. When detectives tried to stop the vehicle, the driver reportedly sped off, but an MNPD helicopter watched the car as it pulled onto a dead end gravel road in the 9700 block of Concord Road in Williamson County. 

The three people inside the vehicle ran into the woods between Concord Road and Brunswick Drive, officials said. With some help from the Brentwood Police Department, the driver and another passenger -- identified by authorities as 25-year-old Francisco Martinez-Lopez and 31-year-old Adrian Diaz, respectively -- were arrested, but Martinez was not

Just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, Tennessee Highway Patrol's (THP) Chattanooga division posted on social media platform X, saying troopers were searching for Martinez, who was on foot in the East Ridge/Brainerd area.

According to THP, Martinez is wanted for eluding law enforcement. Officials described him as 5-feet 6-inches tall, 120 pounds, and possibly armed.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office had posted on Facebook shortly after 3:30 p.m. that it was helping THP search around Scruggs Road and Ringgold Road in East Ridge for a suspect in connection with a vehicular homicide. Then, at 6:10 p.m., the sheriff's office confirmed Martinez was that suspect and reported authorities were searching near Camp Jordan and East Gate for him.

Officials said Martinez ran from THP troopers Wednesday afternoon. However, no additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding that incident.

If you have any contact with Martinez, you are asked to use caution and notify law enforcement immediately.