Suspected DUI driver leaves scene of accident involving injury

Hit and run driver leaves accident scene at Caryville; arrested by La Follette Police at Linden Park

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WLAF)- There’s a reason a La Follette man did not want the police called. He was allegedly driving under the influence when he became involved in a two vehicle wreck with the driver of the other vehicle sustaining injuries.

Near the Elkins Road stop light on the four lane at Caryville is where the other driver’s vehicle hit the back side of a GMC Sonoma pick-up truck. “He suddenly slammed on his brakes, in the truck, and I did not have time to stop resulting in the collision,” the injured party stated to Caryville Police Detective Jacob Fox.

It was at the height of going home time Friday (4:55pm) when the accident occurred on the Jacksboro bound side of the four lane. Both the driver of the Sonoma and his passenger exited the truck, came back to the victim asking her not to call police, and then the two men got back in the truck and drove away without exchanging information, according to the CPD report.

Before being transported to the La Follette Medical Center by Campbell EMS, the victim was able to provide ample information to Fox. She had the type vehicle, license plate number and identified the other driver from his driver’s license photo prompting a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) alert to be announced over the police radio.

Soon after clearing the crash scene, the detective was notified that La Follette Police Narcotics Sgt. Noah Riggs that he and Officer Jackson Stagnolia had stopped the GMC in Linden Park. The LPD officers noted the driver of the truck, William Middlebrooks, was likely DUI, because he allegedly smelled heavily of alcohol.

Middlebrooks had trouble standing once outside his truck and refused to take part in a field sobriety test, according to police. Middlebrooks allegedly admitted to drinking within the past couple of hours, and police found open liquor containers in the truck, based on the report from Caryville Police.

Middlebrooks, 55, of 204 Donna Lane, La Follette, was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury and violation of the implied consent law. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/12/2026-6AM)