LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – A person traveling along the General Stiner Highway-State Route 63 east of La Follette in the Doaks Creek area reported a suspected driver under the influence to Central Dispatch on Tuesday afternoon.

A Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to discover that the driver of a Ford Ranger pick-up had allegedly hit a backhoe in a construction area. According to one official, when the deputy approached the Ranger, the driver ran off on foot.

One report coming in from one of the deputies to Central Dispatch was that the suspect, a white male, believed to be from Campbell County, ran to near Miller’s Bridge at Norris Lake.  The last contact was described as the suspect possibly hiding in the pines behind the dumpsters near old Highway 63.

Other deputies responded, and the pursuit, that began before 1pm, continued until a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol took over the investigation, according to an operator at Central Dispatch.

An official with the Campbell County Jail could not confirm if the suspect was arrested.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/24/2023-1:15PM-UPDATED – 01/25/2023-6AM)