Man Involved in High Speed Crash Gets Probation

The man believed to be responsible for a high speed crash in February on Cookeville Highway near the Smithville City Limits was sentenced Monday, September 12 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
44 year old Phillip John Carroll of Possum Hollow Road, Dowelltown entered a plea by criminal information to leaving the scene of an accident and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation, including six months supervised and six months unsupervised. He will get to keep his drivers license
Trooper Tommy Cooper of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE at the time that the driver of a 1998 Dodge 1500 pickup (Carroll) was north on Highway 56 when he struck a southbound 2012 Chevy Sonic, driven by 44 year old Danny Niles of Smithville. After hitting the car, the truck kept going until it went off the highway, struck a Smithville Electric System utility pole, and then plunged down an embankment. After the wreck the driver (Carroll) abandoned the truck and fled the scene.
The warrant for Leaving the Scene stated that “On February 8 Carroll was driving northbound on State Route 56 when he struck a vehicle, ran off the left side of the roadway and hit a utility pole. Carroll’s vehicle came to a final rest down an embankment. Carroll failed to notify law enforcement and left the scene of the crash. On Wednesday, February 10 I (Trooper Cooper) made contact with (Carroll) at (his home). Carroll said he had not notified law enforcement about the crash”.
Another warrant stated that “Carroll failed to give notice or render aid after being involved in the crash. Carroll left the crash scene”.
While the truck driver was traveling at a high rate of speed he was apparently not being pursued by law enforcement at the time. Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE that a deputy was stopped in the southbound lane at the red light on Highway 56 and East Main Street near the Post Office when he saw the truck run the stop light speeding north. No officer was in pursuit. By the time the deputy turned around, he lost sight of the truck and did not engage in a pursuit. The wreck happened moments later.