A 17-year-old is facing charges after police say his car crashed into a Knoxville house early Sunday, hitting a 59-year-old resident inside and sending him to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with severe but non-life-threatening injuries. Officers say the teen took off after the wreck but was tracked down and arrested a short time later.
According to WVLT, officers responded to a home in the 1200 block of Texas Avenue after a Nissan Altima reportedly struck a curb and a utility pole before plowing into the house. Witness accounts and evidence at the scene led police to put out a bulletin for the vehicle, which was found about 45 minutes later on Oglewood Avenue. The teen admitted to having alcohol and THC before the crash, as reported by WATE 6 On Your Side.
Investigation and scene
Knoxville police say the homeowner was struck when the car left the roadway and slammed into the house, leaving a trail of debris and a damaged utility pole in the neighborhood. Officers took the 17-year-old into custody on several charges, including driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury. Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence to piece together the moments leading up to the crash.
How Tennessee law treats hit-and-runs
Under Tennessee law, drivers involved in a crash are required to stop, provide help when needed and exchange information. Leaving the scene when someone is hurt can bring serious criminal consequences. Legal summaries note that penalties range from misdemeanors for crashes involving only property damage to potential felony charges when injury or death is involved, and DUI-related vehicular assault carries its own separate felony penalties. For more detail, see RecordingLaw and proposed state legislation tracked via Legiscan…