Last night's routine traffic stop on Holston Drive took a dangerous turn, leading to a head-on collision and subsequent hospitalization for four individuals. Officers had initially stopped a red Nissan Altima for running a red light at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Fern Street, as reported by the Knoxville Police Department. The situation escalated after authorities noted suspicious behavior from the car's occupants, prompting a request for backup.
Upon the officer's return to his vehicle, the suspects sped away without being pursued by the police. In a matter of seconds after their attempted escape, they crashed their Nissan into a Toyota Sequoia, necessitating rescue efforts from Knoxville Fire Department personnel. Acting suspiciously, the Nissan occupants fled the scene, only to be involved in a collision soon after. Among the injured was Bryant Page, 35, who, along with Dyshawn McNeil, 33, will face multiple charges once released from the hospital.
Page's condition post-accident has been described as serious but non-life-threatening. He, together with McNeil, carries a history of felony convictions and now faces additional charges found during a search of their vehicle, which revealed two loaded handguns, as per the Knoxville Police statement. Page is set to be charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, aggravated assault, evading arrest, among other offenses. McNeil will also be charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon.
Everyone involved in the collision, including a female driver occupying the struck Toyota, was transported to UT Medical Center. Thankfully, their sustained injuries were not expected to become life-threatening. The police, when finding the handguns in the Nissan, confirmed the gravity of the initial traffic violation. Further legal proceedings for Page and McNeil are anticipated following their recovery. Details regarding the additional passenger have not been disclosed.
