On March 7, 2026, at approximately 7:32 p.m., Crossville Police Officer Chrystal Massey responded to a report of an abandoned red Kia Soul at the intersection of South Main Street and Cleveland Street near Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. The vehicle’s registered owner was identified as 60-year-old Orlando Aviles of Crossville. Upon contacting Aviles by phone, he explained that while driving north on South Main Street during a work break at the hospital, his vehicle became disabled and stopped running. He left it there, called a friend to retrieve it, and returned to work, claiming he was unaware of striking anything.

The friend arrived, noted fresh damage to the passenger-side front bumper and fender (with part of the fender hanging down), which he said was not present earlier, and mentioned that Aviles had possibly struck a sign or object in the Tobacco Mart parking lot. The vehicle was towed from the scene. When officers later confronted Aviles in person after reading him his Miranda rights, he claimed the damage was from hitting a deer the previous week and suggested he might have possibly struck a sign or curb but was unsure. Due to the conflicting statements and visible new damage, Aviles was taken into custody around 9:50 p.m. and charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.

Officers observed a damaged hospital sign lying in the grass along Main Street, with a piece of red vinyl from a vehicle (matching the Kia’s color) and black plastic debris left at the impact site, indicating this was likely where the collision occurred before Aviles abandoned the vehicle.

Aviles declined a drug and alcohol screening requested by his employer, and a medical screening was planned due to an reported eye injury that could affect his driving.

The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.