Parked truck hit, pushed up a hill by alleged DUI driver

Crash occurred south of the South Cumberland-East Kentucky Avenues intersection

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – When La Follette Police Officer Dillon Marney arrived on the scene of a car accident with reports of injury, he found a man behind the wheel of a van that had wrecked into a parked pick-up truck.

Just before 8pm Monday at 811 South Cumberland Avenue, Officer Marney saw Bradley Lawson sitting behind the wheel of a white 2000 Honda Odyssey. The officer made contact with Lawson who was sitting in the driver’s seat with pinpoint pupils, slurred speech and not wearing a seatbelt, according to the police report. Lawson complained of head and neck injuries and was transported by Campbell County EMS to the La Follette Medical Center.

A witness traveling behind Lawson on East Central Avenue told Officer Marney she saw Lawson swerving in and out of his lane and then make a right turn onto South Cumberland Avenue nearly colliding with a pole. While on South Cumberland, the witness watched Lawson’s Honda start slowly drifting toward the oncoming lane colliding with a parked black Dodge Dakota pick-up truck in a residential area. The impact pushed the truck up an embankment, based on the report.

The owner of the truck told Officer Marney that he and his wife heard a loud noise, looked out and saw Lawson passed out behind the wheel, according to the police report.

Upon conducting a tow inventory, Officer Marney came across a clear crystal substance, suspected to be Methamphetamine, inside a clear bag. Also discovered was a black wrapper with brown residue on it, thought to be Heroin.

After Lawson was medically cleared from the La Follette Medical Center Emergency Room, he was placed under arrest and transported to the Campbell County Jail.

Lawson consented to a blood draw and was charged with DUI (driving under the influence). Other charges levied against the 42-year old Lawson include possession of schedule I and II controlled substances and drug paraphernalia possession. A reckless driving charge, reckless endangerment and failure to provide proof of insurance charge are also listed against Lawson. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/15/2024-6AM)