On February 27, 2026, at approximately 7:54 a.m., deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in Crossville, responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle at the end of Hyder Ridge Road. They discovered a black BMW passenger car in a ditch, missing its passenger-side rear tire and with a shattered front windshield, indicating it had been involved in a crash. No driver or occupants were present at the scene.

The vehicle was registered to Steven Edwin Sweet, a 40-year-old resident of East First Street in Crossville. Deputy Brent Griffin later contacted Sweet at his home around 9:45 a.m. Sweet admitted he had been the driver, stating he left a local craft beer bar in downtown Crossville, got into his BMW, and crashed while driving home on Hyder Ridge Road.

He acknowledged leaving the scene without reporting the accident, explaining it had been “a wild night.” The deputy noted a strong odor of alcohol on Sweet’s breath and person.

Sweet was arrested on-view at 10:00 a.m. for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident. He faces two general sessions charges, each with a $5,000 bond, scheduled for court on April 6, 2026.

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.