Alexander Hernandez
Police said a drunk man continued to drive his crippled car after crashing into several parked cars downtown.
In the incident at 3 a.m. Sunday, a deputy said he was at the intersection of MLK Boulevard and Chestnut Street when he heard the accident. He then saw a gray Infiniti with heavy front-end damage being driven at a high rate of speed through the intersection.
He said the vehicle was smoking and sparking from the rubber of the wheels and the car rims. All the airbags had deployed.
The vehicle did not stop until it crashed near the intersection of Rossville Avenue and Main Street.
The deputy said the driver, Alexander Hernandez, began getting out of the vehicle as if he planned to run. He was quickly handcuffed. Police said he had a strong odor of alcohol, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet.
Inside the vehicle was passenger Zachary James Toman, who was moaning from pain. He had blood all over his face, shirt and right arm. There was a laceration on his right arm. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Police found some marijuana and a marijuana pipe inside the vehicle.
Police said Alexander was tested and his blood alcohol content was "way over the limit."
Alexander, 26, of Farrah Court in Cleveland, Tn., was charged with evading arrest, vehicular assault, DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and leaving the scene of an accident.