A Saturday evening wreck which began as a suspicious vehicle report, led to a pursuit and a wreck which resulted in injuries to both occupants.
A Greene County Sheriff’s Department report indicates deputies responded shortly before 7:30 pm to Whispering Oaks Lane to a suspicious vehicle possibly trespassing. 9-1-1 dispatch then advised the complainant reported the suspect “came at her” leading deputies to believe that an assault may have occurred. Dispatch further advised that the suspect vehicle had just left the area. The suspect van was later stopped on Rufe Taylor Road but fled the scene as deputies were starting to exit their patrol cars. The driver then ran the signal light at North Rufe Taylor and Highway 11-E, driving erratically and failing to maintain its lane. The pursuit continued onto Erwin Highway and the 107 cutoff. Garbage was thrown from the van, several other cars were passed illegally and various other traffic control devices were ignored. At one time during the chase, the rear door of the van was opened and objects were thrown at the cruiser. The Tennessee Highway Patrol joined in the pursuit. Near Parman Road, spike strips were successfully deployed but the van failed to negotiate a turn near the Asheville Highway intersection. The vehicle then ran off the roadway and crashed into a group of trees near Buckboard Road. Both occupants were transported to an area hospital where they were initially listed in stable condition.
The driver, 41 year old Heather D. Collins, is being charged with driving on a suspended license and felony evading arrest. Her passenger, 37 year old James Jones is being charged with aggravated criminal littering, due to the high volume of garbage and debris thrown from the vehicle, and aggravated assault based on his attempts to throw to throw metal and other objects at pursuing deputies.
