On Tuesday, Crossville Police units were dispatched to the area of East 1st Street and Harrison Avenue regarding a possible vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arriving, Officer Jacob Zimmerman contacted Clifford Begley, the driver of one of two of the vehicles involved in the crash. Mr Begley was asked what happened and stated that his kids in the backseat were arguing and he turned around to stop them and that is when his vehicle crashed.

Officer Zimmerman asked Begley to be more specific with the events of the accident but he was unable to do so. While talking, Begley was unable to focus and was unsteady on his feet. Officers Zimmerman asked Begley if he had consumed any substances that day and he said that he didn’t. Zimmerman then asked him if he was on any medications and Begley responded that he had teeth pulled the previous week and was given pain medication for it.

Officer Zimmerman felt that Begley might possibly be impaired and performed field sobriety tests on him. During the walk-and-turn portion of the tests, Begley started before he was instructed to do so and after one step stopped started to cry and sat down in a fetal position. He was given a moment to catch his breath. Begley was eventually deemed to be under the influence after further testing. He was placed under custody and transported to the Cumberland Medical Center to have his blood drawn.

The driver of the second vehicle hit by Begley’s vehicle was transported to the Cumberland Medical Center due to injuries.

After having his blood drawn Begley was taken to the Cumberland County Justice Center where Officer Zimmerman was granted warrants on Begley for reckless endangerment and driving under the influence.

Begley’s blood was placed into cold evidence and sent to the TBI for analysis and Officer Zimmerman submitted a referral with the Department of Child Services.