Police 23-mile chase ends in K-Pike/Smith Rd. crash
A Loudon County man was apprehended and charged following a multi-county chase that ended with a three-vehicle crash in Farragut last week.
Christopher J. McClanahan, 31, wrecked a white Ford F-150 at the corner of Smith Road and Kingston Pike Tuesday afternoon Nov. 8, as he was running from Blount County Sheriff’s deputies after allegedly stealing the pick-up.
According to published reports, McClanahan was spotted about 4 p.m. in Blount County on U.S. Highway 321, driving the F-150 truck, which had been reported stolen the day before in Loudon County.
“Deputies activated their emergency equipment and attempted to stop McClanahan, who was reported to be ‘homicidal and suicidal,’ but he would not stop and he accelerated his vehicle to evade arrest,” according to BCSO reports.
McClanahan then led police on a 23-mile chase — at times reportedly traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph — during which he allegedly forced at least one car into the emergency lane and evaded additional spike strips at the intersection of Highway 321 and Highway 11 in Lenoir City.
He continued on Highway 11 toward Farragut and into Knox County, only stopping when he struck two vehicles at the Kingston Pike-Smith Road intersection. He was trapped in the wreckage and was reportedly removed by law enforcement.
McClanahan and another driver were taken by ambulance to Turkey Creek Medical Center, where they were treated for non life-threatening injuries, according to previous reports.
The other driver involved declined treatment.
Officers from Loudon and Knox county sheriff’s offices assisted in the apprehension. Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the accident, according to reports.
McClanahan was charged by BCSO with evading arrest and reckless endangerment. Among his charges in Loudon County were carjacking, evading arrest and two counts of theft. A Loudon County Jail employee confirmed he was being held, awaiting a bond hearing as of Monday, Nov. 14.
