A woman is facing a number of charges after leading Knox County deputies on a chase on I-40 in East Knox County Wednesday night, then crashing her car.
According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Crystal Danielle Braden, 27, is charged with evading arrest, driving without a license in possession, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, criminal impersonation, driving with no car insurance, 2nd DUI, and unlawful drug paraphernalia.
The pursuit started around 9:00 p.m. when a KCSO officer was stopped at the red light on Chilhowee Drive at Asheville Highway. Braden, who was driving a red Mitsubishi Eclipse, sped past the officer, running the red light.
The officer tried to pull the car over, but Braden did not stop, instead speeding away and merging onto eastbound I-40.
Driving at speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour, investigators say she was weaving in and out of traffic and onto the shoulder numerous times.
Deputies pursued the car for four minutes before the chase was terminated for safety reasons.
Braden then took the exit ramp at Midway Road, lost control of her car, and crashed into the woods. An unknown occupant fled the vehicle on foot.
Braden was taken to UT Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. According to the report, she had marks on her arm consistent with intravenous drug use and had hypodermic needles consistent with IV drug use in her purse.
She has a criminal history in Knox County including shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia. Braden has an outstanding warrant for theft in Sevier County, as well as a 2009 DWI conviction in Georgia.
A woman was sent to the hospital after the car she was in led Knox County Sheriff's deputies on a chase in east Knox County; the chase had been terminated when the accident happened.
According to the KCSO website, a deputy attempted to pull over a Mitsubishi Eclispse on Asheville Highway on the suspicion of drunk driving.
The driver did not stop but instead drove onto I-40E. The driver led the officer in a pursuit for four minutes until KCSO decided to stop it.
Deputies say the driver of the Eclipse then exited on Midway Road and vereened into the woods by the road.
One passenger was taken to UT Medical Center.
Officers are still investigating the incident.