photo by Connie Faircloth
A naked man who was involved in a wreck on Highway 111 late Friday morning is facing numerous charges.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., Hamilton County Sheriff deputies started to receive numerous reports that a vehicle was driving erratically on U.S. Highway 111 and that the driver was stopping his vehicle and at one point got out of his vehicle in a naked state.
According to preliminary reports, Dennis Nixon II was operating a Silver 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer on Highway 111. Numerous witnesses observed him driving erratically from lane to lane and at high rates of speed.
Eventually, Nixon drove his vehicle northbound in the southbound travel lanes. Witness statements obtained at the scene stated that Nixon drove his vehicle into oncoming traffic at suspected speeds of over 90 miles an hour.
George and Susan Stone said after he began driving the wrong way, he was approaching them head on and matched their lane changes when they tried to avoid his vehicle. The Stones said they only avoided being struck by driving off the right side of the roadway.
Shortly after that, Nixon's northbound vehicle was traveling toward another southbound vehicle operated by Regina Carson. Ms. Carson said when she swerved right to avoid Nixon's vehicle, he matched her lane change. She then swerved her vehicle left and Nixon's vehicle swerved into that lane and struck her vehicle.
Ms. Carson's vehicle, a 2008 Dodge Avenger belonging to SETHRA (the Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency), was struck by Nixon's vehicle and the impact caused the air bags to deploy in both vehicles. Ms. Carson was evaluated by EMS on the scene and declined transport to the hospital.
When deputies arrived, Nixon was being restrained by numerous bystanders. A deputy said Nixon was still unclothed and making statements about his father and God. After being medically cleared by EMS, Nixon told a deputy he loved her, tried to kiss her, and admitted to consuming "acid" that God gave him because he wanted him to be “free”.
Nixon was transported by deputies to the Hamilton County Jail where he was evaluated by a drug recognition expert. The expert declared him unfit to operate a motor vehicle and is a suspected drug user.
Nixon is in the Hamilton County Jail charged with three counts of aggravated assault, felony reckless endangerment. DUI, felony vandalism (for damage to the vehicle he struck), driving wrong way on roadway and indecent exposure.