A four-year-old girl is fighting for her life following a horrific incident Wednesday evening in North Knoxville.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on July 1, 2026, Knoxville Police Department (KPD) officers rushed to the 100 block of Cedar Lane, near Merchants Drive, following reports that a child had been struck by a vehicle.

According to preliminary investigations, the incident stemmed from a workplace dispute. Police state that 54-year-old Charles Jump, an employee for a local food truck owner, became involved in a heated verbal argument with his employer. As Jump attempted to flee the parking lot in his vehicle, he struck the business owner’s four-year-old daughter, who was playing on the curb.

The situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation between the distraught business owner and Jump. During the chaos, Jump’s vehicle also collided with several nearby parked cars.

The young victim was rushed to the UT Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, where she remains in critical condition.

Following the incident, officers discovered that Jump was driving on a revoked license and had an active warrant for domestic assault out of nearby Sevier County. He was immediately arrested on those outstanding charges.

The KPD Violent Crimes Unit has taken the lead on the ongoing investigation. Authorities noted that additional charges against Jump are highly likely as the investigation unfolds.