TOP PHOTO:  A man was using vice grips in place of a steering wheel when he crashed into a LaFollette Bank on Monday morning.

Nicholas Wayne Knight, 26, of LaFollette, hit two vehicles and then crashed into the bank.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – A LaFollette man was arrested on multiple charges after he crashed into two vehicles and the First Volunteer Bank early Monday morning. Officers noted the truck had a pair of vice grips “clamped” where the steering wheel should have been.

According to the LaFollette Police report, Officer Danielle Gilbert was conducting a traffic stop at the Red Roof Market around 12:45 a.m. when she witnessed Nicholas Wayne Knight, 26, of LaFollette, hit two vehicles and then crashed into the bank.

When officers checked the vehicle, they found the steering wheel was missing and that Knight had been steering it with a pair of vice grips. According to the police report, Knight told officers his brakes failed and caused the accident.

The report noted that Knight had been arrested on Jan. 21 for reckless driving in the same truck with vice grips as a steering wheel. At that time, he had been told not to drive the vehicle until it was working properly and the truck had been towed.

Knight was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, failure to maintain lane, due care, possession of drug paraphernalia, seat belt violation, reckless driving, brakes required, rear view mirror required, steering wheel required, violation of TN financial law, as well as a capias bench warrant from the county for reckless driving.

Knight was released from jail on Tuesday on a $6,750 bond. He is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on April 2 at 9 a.m.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/05/2020-6AM)

Related