THP investigating after impaired driver causes crash on Alcoa Highway

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -Sunday morning, the Alcoa Police Department announced the northbound lanes of Alcoa Highway will be shut down for several hours after a pursuit ended in a crash.

The northbound lanes of Alcoa Highway will remain closed for several hours as police work to reconstruct the crash scene near the Topside Road intersection.

In the latest update from APD, police confirmed more information about the crash and the people involved. According to APD, at approximately 3:20 a.m., officers witnessed a reckless driver in a 2002 Nissan Maxima traveling at a high speed on Hall Road going northbound near Texas Roadhouse. An officer reportedly tried to catch up to the car but lost sight of it as it merged onto Alcoa Highway toward Knoxville, according to police.

Afterward, another officer reportedly spotted the car speeding near Lois Lane and said the driver was displaying signs of being impaired and failing to stay in their lane.

Police reported the driver underestimated a curve on Alcoa Highway at Rivertrace Boulevard while speeding and hit the rear of a commercial box van. causing the van to overturn and hit the bridge wall. The driver of the box van was identified as 39-year-old Yoendry Felipe Aragon-Prieto of North Carolina. He was transported to UT Medical Center with minor injuries, police said.

The driver of the Nissan Maxima was identified as 41-year-old Jerome Robinson of Knoxville. He was reportedly taken to UT Medical Center as well where police said he was listed as in critical condition but stable. APD said warrants were obtained in Blount County against Robinson for driving while his license was revoked for DUI, failure to maintain traffic lane, speeding, reckless endangerment, evading arrest by vehicle, vehicular assault, lights required on for vehicles and driving under the influence.

APD said the Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response Team is conducting the crash investigation.