KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A man was arrested after he drove through the scene of a crash and "nearly collided" with an officer, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
Adonis Salter, 21, of Maryville, was charged with DUI, felony evading arrest, possession of a handgun while under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident, KPD said.
Officials were attempting to slow down traffic after responding to a crash on I-40 East near Papermill Drive around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday. Salter, driving a black Dodge Challenger, drove around an officer towards the scene of the crash and took off at a high rate of speed, according to KPD.
An officer followed in an effort to conduct a traffic stop on Salter. Salter continued off the Papermill Drive exit and "nearly collided" with another Knoxville officer who was standing near the off-ramp, KPD said.
Officers attempted another traffic stop as Salter continued driving, but he was fleeing at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Officers canceled the pursuit due to the reckless nature of the Salter's driving, KPD said.
Shortly after, Salter crashed into a light pole at the intersection of Papermill Drive and Kingston Pike, according to KPD.
It was also reported that before driving through the crash scene and fleeing from officers, Salter collided with a Hyundai sedan on I-40 East. None of the Hyundai occupants were hurt, KPD said.
A woman and man were in the car with Salter. All three were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, KPD said.
Officers located a handgun under the driver's seat as well as an open beer bottle in the car, KPD said.
A KPD officer arrived at UT Medical Center and contacted Salter. According to an incident report, Salter said he did not remember where he was driving from but said he was driving to "Southbound", a local bar. When asked about the two crashes and the act of fleeing from officers, Salter said he did not remember any of those incidents.
The officer said he noticed an odor of an alcoholic beverage from Salter's breath and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. When asked if he had consumed any alcohol, Salter initially said he drank half of the bottle of a 40oz beer. Salter later said he had never said that and denied drinking any alcohol, an incident report shows.
The officer explained and demonstrated a field sobriety test while Salter was lying in the hospital bed. Salter displayed a lack of smooth pursuit in both right and left eyes during the test, according to the officer. The officer said that based on observations, it was determined that Salter was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Salter voluntarily chose to submit to a blood test.
According to an incident report, one of the passengers said they were coming from an apartment to "Southbound" in the Oldy City. The passenger said that she remembers being involved in a crash with a red sedan before Salter drove away at a high rate of speed. The passenger said she had anxiety and remembers repeatedly telling Salter to stop the car to let her out. The passenger told the officer that she does not remember the collision with the pole. The other passenger told the officer he did not remember anything prior to the crash with the pole.
Warrants were placed on file for Salter who was released to hospital staff with a hold, an incident report shows.