Driver strikes 2 parked cars, including KPD cruiser, flees scene

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A woman hit a parked police cruiser and another vehicle before fleeing the scene on Saturday morning.

Knoxville police said the incident happened just after 2:30 a.m. on South Central Street.

Officials say Tarayn Machelle Ryan, 23, was driving a 2006 Honda on East Jackson Avenue, disregarded a stop sign and then turned left onto South Central Street.

Ryan struck a Honda Civic in the rear and attempted to flee.  Although there was a person in the parked car, she was not injured.

However, Ryan then struck the door of a parked KPD cruiser and continued south on South Central Street.

Officer Woody Bingham was standing next to the door of his cruiser when he heard the initial crash and saw Ryan approaching.

Bingham ran to the back of his car to avoid being hit. He then entered his damaged cruiser and followed Ryan, who was stopped for traffic at South Central Street and Summit Hill.

Police believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor.