The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:49 PM
Wrong Way Driver On 640/I-40 Charged With 18 Crimes, Felonies
Just before 6 a.m., dispatchers received reports of a red pickup truck driving the wrong way on I-640 at Western Avenue. Callers said the red truck crashed into another vehicle and drove away from the scene.
According to the preliminary investigation, a Chevrolet Z71 pickup truck entered onto I-640 at Western Avenue going east in the westbound lanes. Police say after the truck hit a vehicle, it continued east in the westbound lanes until it collided with a semi-truck and erupted into flames at the I-40 west ramp to I-640 west on the east end of Knoxville.
KPD said a passerby pulled the driver, identified as Ronnie Grantham from Sevierville, from the pickup truck. Grantham was transported to UT Medical Center, where he was being treated for not life threatening injuries. Officers said neither the driver of the semi-truck nor the driver of the hit vehicle were hurt.
Grantham was arrested Tuesday morning and now faces 18 charges, including DUI, felony reckless endangerment, simple possession, and reckless driving. Grantham is being held on a $153,900 bond.
