KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE WEDNESDAY: The Lenoir City man who led authorities on a chase Tuesday afternoon in a stolen Ford truck faces evading arrest and reckless endangerment charges.
Christopher J. McClanahan, 31, likely will face other warrants in Loudon County. Authorities say he stole two vehicles, among other crimes, while eluding police.
McClanahan was being held Wednesday in the Blount County Correctional Facility.
On Wednesday, Blount County authorities released more information about the chase that led to his crash and arrest in West Knox County.
McClanahan was spotted about 4 p.m. Tuesday in Blount County on U.S. Highway 321 driving a white Ford F-150 that had been stolen the day before. According to Blount County, someone had carjacked the truck in Lenoir City.
"Deputies activated their emergency equipment and attempted to stop McClanahan, who was reported to be homicidal and suicidal, but he would not stop and he accelerated his vehicle to evade arrest," according to the Blount County Sheriff's Office.
McClanahan tried to outrun pursuing deputies.
"At one point, McClanahan forced a vehicle from its lane of travel into the emergency lane and he continued at high speeds toward Lenoir City," according to a department release.
He swerved to avoid spike strips that had been put down to flatten his tires. The pursuit continued into Knox County.
McClanahan hit two vehicles at Kingston Pike and Smith Road, according to BCSO. He wrecked, according to Loudon County authorities.
He received treatment at an area hospital before going into Blount County custody.
One of the drivers that McClanahan hit was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that weren't life threatening. The other driver declined treatment.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating.
PREVIOUS STORY: A man led Loudon and Blount County authorities on a chase Tuesday afternoon that ended when his stolen truck rolled over and crashed in West Knox County, according to the Loudon County Sheriff's Office.
The name of the man was not released. The man was taken into custody, according to Chief Deputy Zac Frye of the Loudon County Sheriff's Office.
According to Frye, the man walked out of Fort Loudoun Medical Center's emergency room on Monday afternoon. He'd been admitted for an evaluation, and had been in the custody of Lenoir City police before going to the hospital for evaluation.
After leaving the ER, he later went to Walmart in Lenoir City and stole a vehicle, according to Frye.
Loudon County authorities pursued the vehicle but ultimately lost him.
"The male then returned to Lenoir City last night and left the stolen vehicle at his girlfriend's house and stole a second vehicle, a Ford F-150," according to a release from Frye.
About 4 p.m. Tuesday, Blount County authorities spotted the subject and the truck.
They attempted to stop it. That led to a chase that went into Loudon County.
Deputies from Blount and Loudon counties followed the Ford into West Knox County where it wrecked, according to Frye.
