A 30-year-old Chattanooga woman is facing felony charges after police say she drove her SUV off a cliff with her two young children strapped inside, sending the vehicle 20 to 25 feet down onto active railroad tracks below. Chase Ryan Klinedinst was arrested more than a month after the September 7 crash. She received hospital treatment and was later placed on a psychiatric hold; blood samples collected during treatment were expected to be submitted for forensic testing.
According to a police affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, Klinedinst drove her Honda CR-V onto a dirt path used by trainspotters while intoxicated, and the SUV plunged off the bluff and landed upside down beside the tracks. Law & Crime reports that investigators located an empty bottle of Vinho Verde wine along with an unopened, still-cold bottle of Fetzer Gewürztraminer inside the vehicle, and that deputies noted Klinedinst's slurred speech and strong smell of alcohol at the scene.
A Dead-End Drop Above Active Rail Lines
The crash happened at what's known locally as Coffey's Cliff, an informal railfan overlook at the dead end of Stuart Street, overlooking the DeButts Rail Yard and nearby railroad tracks. The unofficial lookout point is known as Coffey's Cliff. Emergency crews rescued Klinedinst and her children after the SUV came to rest upside down near the tracks. The 25-foot drop temporarily halted rail operations on the easternmost line below.
Both children were secured in child safety seats during the fall. One child suffered a fractured forearm and wrist, severe lung bruising, and leg abrasions, while the second child was uninjured; Klinedinst herself was not seriously hurt in the crash, according to Local 3.
Paranoia, a Psychiatric Hold, and a Medic's Warning
At the scene, a medic reportedly told Klinedinst, “Stop grabbing me,” as first responders worked to free her and her children from the overturned SUV. She was later placed on a psychiatric hold due to paranoia and delusions, according to Slay News. Blood samples were collected during treatment at a local hospital and were expected to be submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime laboratory for forensic testing, with the Tennessee Highway Patrol serving as the primary charging agency in the case.
Klinedinst was arrested on October 12, and a judge ordered a $10,000 bond. She has been charged with driving under the influence, child neglect, child abuse, and vehicular assault, and is scheduled to appear in court on November 17.
What Tennessee Law Says About DUI Crashes Involving Children
Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-106, vehicular assault is defined as recklessly causing serious bodily injury to another person as a result of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class D felony carrying two to 12 years in prison, according to information published by Travis Meeks Attorney at Law. Separate DUI statutes, T.C.A. § 55-10-401 and § 55-10-403, impose enhanced mandatory minimum jail penalties for driving under the influence with a minor passenger under 18, escalating to Class D felony penalties when a child suffers serious bodily injury, per the Moreland Law Firm.
