Late on May 20, a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper cut short what prosecutors say was a terrifying high-speed sprint on I-240 after a driver allegedly barreled the wrong way down the eastbound lanes at more than 120 mph, then crashed on Kirby Parkway. The trooper first spotted a maroon Nissan Maxima running a red light at the South Perkins exit and, after the driver stopped in the intersection, tried to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, identified by prosecutors as Dedrick Taylor, was ultimately taken into custody without incident. Authorities say the crash and the wrong-way run put other motorists at serious risk.
According to Action News 5, the trooper activated the lights and siren when the car initially stopped, but the vehicle took off and headed the wrong way on I-240 east, cutting off other drivers and reaching speeds "in excess of 120 mph" before exiting onto State Route 385. The car later came off the highway at Ridgeway Road, with its headlights and taillights switched off, and slammed into a concrete median on Kirby Parkway, disabling the vehicle.
Troopers said that during a probable-cause search of the car, they found a plastic bag with a green, leafy substance that tested positive for THC, along with additional bags of similar material, a digital scale, and about $300 in cash. Prosecutors have charged Taylor with offenses that include evading arrest, felony reckless endangerment, and possession with intent to sell or distribute. He is being held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled for his next court date on May 28.
THP pursuits and local concern
Memphis has seen a run of high-speed chases in recent months, fueling criticism that some troopers are too quick to hit the gas in pursuit situations. The Memphis Flyer reported that the Tennessee Department of Safety’s Office of Professional Accountability logged 422 THP pursuits statewide in 2024, with local coverage tying several serious crashes to those chases.
Policy advocates point to national recommendations that urge restraint when suspects are wanted only for minor offenses, arguing pursuit rules should put public safety ahead of rapid arrests. The debate has sharpened in Memphis as residents see more videos and reports of high-speed runs like the one that ended on Kirby Parkway.
What the law allows
Tennessee law gives emergency vehicles some leeway to run red lights or exceed posted speed limits while responding to calls or chasing suspects, but courts have been clear that this privilege is limited by a duty to drive with due regard for everyone else on the road. Judges have interpreted Tenn. Code § 55-8-108, as summarized by Justia, to allow passing a red light only after slowing enough to ensure safe operation.
Evading arrest while driving falls under Tenn. Code § 39-16-603, discussed by Justia, and can be enhanced if the suspect’s flight creates a risk of death or serious injury. Reckless endangerment, defined in Tenn. Code § 39-13-103 and outlined by FindLaw, carries stiffer penalties when someone’s conduct places others in imminent danger.
Court date and booking
As first reported by Action News 5, Taylor is being held on a $50,000 bond and is due back in court on May 28. On top of the driving-related counts, prosecutors have filed drug charges tied to the items troopers say they found in the car. The case is set to move through Shelby County courts next week.
Federal guidance on pursuits
The U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office and national policing groups such as the Police Executive Research Forum recommend that vehicle pursuits be reserved mainly for situations where a suspect poses an imminent threat of serious violence. The goal is to cut down on deaths and severe injuries tied to high-speed chases. Local advocates often lean on that national framework as they press for tighter pursuit policies and more rigorous review of chase-related crashes in Tennessee.
