Oak Ridge, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A 17-year-old male is in custody after a stolen vehicle pursuit that ended with a crash in Oak Ridge early Sunday morning.
According to the Oak Ridge Police Department, officers were first called just before 7 a.m. to the area of Outer Drive and New York Avenue after reports of an abandoned vehicle in the roadway. When officers arrived, they found the vehicle had a damaged ignition and confirmed it had been reported stolen out of Knoxville.
While investigating, a nearby resident reported their Hyundai had been stolen overnight. Police quickly shared a description of that vehicle with surrounding agencies.
A short time later, Oliver Springs Police Department officers located the stolen Hyundai and attempted a traffic stop. Investigators said the driver refused to stop and led officers toward Oak Ridge along North Illinois Avenue.
Oak Ridge officers joined the pursuit and deployed spike strips. Despite having disabled tires, the driver continued through the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and South Illinois Avenue before leaving the roadway and crashing into a Shoney’s restaurant sign.
The driver, identified as a 17-year-old male, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Facility. Authorities say he is being held pending charges from multiple law enforcement agencies.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details have been released.
