A 17-year-old male is in custody following a stolen vehicle pursuit and crash in Oak Ridge on Sunday morning. The incident began just before 7 a.m. when Oak Ridge Police discovered an abandoned vehicle with a damaged ignition near Outer Drive and New York Avenue, which was later identified as stolen from Knoxville.

While investigating, officers learned that a resident’s Hyundai had also been stolen overnight from the same area. Shortly after law enforcement shared the vehicle’s details, Oliver Springs Police located the Hyundai and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled toward Oak Ridge. Oak Ridge Police joined the pursuit and deployed spike strips, which damaged the vehicle’s tires but did not immediately stop it; the Hyundai ultimately veered off the roadway and crashed into a Shoney’s business sign.

The teenage driver was arrested without incident, reported no injuries, and is currently held at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Facility pending charges from multiple agencies as the investigation continues.

(Photo by Blake Stewart of Quality Towing)