KNOX COUNTY, Ky (LEX 18) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office reports that a man was intentionally run over Saturday and the perpetrator had left the scene in a gray Toyota pickup.
On Saturday around 4 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a man being hit by a vehicle on Callebs Creek Road. When deputies arrived at the scene, they say that they found a 45-year-old man lying in a ditch by the roadway. The victim was taken to Barbourville ARH for treatment of his injuries. The victim was later flown to Tennessee Medical Center. He is stable but remains in critical condition.
Deputies said that during their investigation, they determined that the man had been run over intentionally and the perpetrator had left the scene in an early 90s model gray Toyota pickup truck. Deputies say that a witness, who was inside the truck at the time, said the driver was 33-year-old Eric L. Smith.
Smith’s vehicle was found on top of Red Bird Mountain. As deputies approached the vehicle, it started up and traveled for one mile at a high rate of speed before leaving the roadway and hitting a tree. The driver then hopped out and deputies say he ran off on foot.
Smith was arrested around 3 p.m. Monday. He was charged with attempted murder, assault 1st degree motor vehicle, fleeing and evading motor vehicle, and fleeing and evading on foot.
