Numerous people were injured and a portion of Highway 127 North in Crossville was shut down for about three hours after a vehicle fleeing law enforcement collided with a truck around 7:30 Sunday morning.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 31-year-old Donnel L. Johnson was fleeing southbound on Highway 127 North when he came upon slower traffic. Johnson, who was driving a 2016 Nissan Altima, reportedly passed in a no-passing zone and struck a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado that had slowed to turn left into the Circle K Market parking lot.
After impact, the Nissan traveled off the left side of the roadway through the Circle K parking lot, rotating and coming to a final rest facing east in the northbound ditch. The Chevy truck rotated and came to a final rest facing southbound in the roadway. During the collision, debris from both vehicles struck two pedestrians who were standing near the north entrance of the Circle K Market.
The THP says the driver of the Chevy truck was injured and authorities reported Sunday that at least three people were flown from the scene to regional trauma centers.
The THP says the fleeing driver was not injured. His passenger, 25-year-old Adam Thomas Owens, Jr. did sustain injuries. Charges are pending against both Johnson and Owens.