KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers early Thursday chased a Georgia driver who's accused of driving drunk from the Chattanooga area all the way to Knoxville.
The chase ended in West Knoxville just after 3:00 a.m. on Interstate 40 eastbound near the Papermill Drive exit.
THP says Chattanooga dispatch first received a call about a reckless driver in a 2006 Toyota Camry on Interstate 75 northbound at 2:14 a.m. Troopers were told be on the lookout.
At 2:26 a.m., a trooper spotted the Toyota and tried to do a traffic stop at the 56 mile marker. THP says the suspect sped up to more than 100 miles per hour.
Troopers began a chase from the 58 mile maker headed northbound and going into THP's Knoxville District.
THP spokesperson Dalya Qualls says she believes the Loudon County Sheriff's Office deployed spike strips near exit 72, which took out the right tires on the Toyota.
The suspect started slowing to around 60 mph, slamming on his brakes and speeding up again. He sideswiped a trooper's patrol unit around mile marker 74, but the trooper stayed in the chase.
Another stop stick was deployed around mile marker 79, taking out the left front tire of the Toyota.
At 3:01 a.m., the suspect came to a stop on I-40 eastbound at the 383 mile marker. He was taken into custody without further incident.
THP identified him as Ryan M. Grim, 30, of Roswell, Georgia. He's charged with DUI fourth offense, evading arrest, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and felony evading out of McMinn County. More charges are pending.
Grim was initially taken to the Knox County Jail, but was later taken to UT Medical Center.
The chase ended just after 3 a.m. on Interstate 40 eastbound near the Papermill Drive exit.
