Alleged drunk driver strikes mailbox, damages culvert, power pole

Drives three blocks home in heavily damaged truck

CHERRY BOTTOM, TN (WLAF)- The investigating officer didn’t have to drive far from the victim’s home to the suspect’s home in a reported hit and run incident. It was 4:40pm Wednesday when Campbell Sheriff’s Deputy Caleb McClurg responded not knowing his suspect was a stone’s throw away from where a hit and run had just occurred.

While the deputy tended to the victims and their property damage at 2454 Highway 116 in Campbell County, a Rocky Top Police Officer located a silver 2022 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck and its driver pulling into a driveway about three blocks south of the scene. The truck matched the description given to police including the Tennessee license plate registration, the report said.

One of the victims explained the Chevy left Highway 116 striking her mailbox, destroying her culvert, continuing on southbound in the culvert before hitting a power pole. It was also reported that the victim’s neighbor suffered damage to his property.

McClurg drove over to Jeff Newport’s house where the truck and Newport were and noticed all the damage to the pick-up. There was heavy front end damage with the front passenger side wheel stuck in place where it had been dragging the ground. The truck’s undercarriage was damaged still containing traces of concrete, rock and dirt.

When he came in contact with Newport, the deputy introduced himself while seeing Newport was unsteady on his feet. McClurg asked Newport what happened, and Newport, with slurred speech, stated “he wasn’t sure what happened”. The deputy described Newport’s eyes as bloodshot and watery.

When asked if he drank any alcohol, Newport allegedly said that he had had two 16-ounce Bud Lights about an hour before he left home. Newport consented to taking a field sobriety test.

As McClurg was conducting the field sobriety test, Newport’s son arrived and began yelling at the elder Newport not to do the testing. Asked if he wished to continue test, Jeff Newport stated that he would not.

Based on the evidence and observation of this case, McClurg placed Newport under arrest for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. While at the Campbell County Jail, Newport refused to provide a blood or breath sample. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/15/2026-6AM)