Driver facing charges including DUI after woman, child jump from vehicle in Rockwood

ROCKWOOD, Tenn. ( WATE ) — A 38-year-old Rockwood man is facing multiple charges after a crash at a boat ramp near Watts Bar Lake on Wednesday evening, according to a report from the Rockwood City Police Department.

Adam Black , 38, is facing charges including DUI (fourth offense), aggravated vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, due care, failure to maintain lane, child restraint and a seat belt violation. Black was driving a 2001 Ford F-250 pickup on Wednesday, Sept. 4 just after 7 p.m. at Dr. Tom Fuller Memorial Park when the incident took place.

The report states that an initial call to emergency services reported seeing a woman and a baby lying in the roadway, bleeding and unconscious after they had jumped out of a truck. The driver of the truck, the caller said, was still at the scene, smoking a vape. The man and woman had reportedly been fighting.

The police narrative in the report states officers approached the injured parties at the scene, and the child appeared to have a broken leg among other injuries and the 21-year-old woman appeared to have a severe head injury and road rash. Both were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Witnesses told police that a woman and small child had jumped out of the passenger-side door of the vehicle when it was halfway down the ramp heading toward the lake, just after Black drove the truck through the sign and destroyed it. Witnesses also said Black parked his truck and remained in the vehicle until officers arrived.

Police approached Black and the report states they could smell an odor of alcohol coming from him and they could not understand what he was saying because his speech was slurred. Black initially refused police orders to exit the truck and was removed by an officer and Chief Pittman before they placed him in handcuffs for their safety according to the report.

They looked into the truck and did not see a child restraint seat.

“Due to Mr. Black’s condition, I didn’t believe Mr. Black was able to give consent for a blood or breath test so I used a Search Warrant for a blood draw at Roane Medical Center,” the police narrative states. ” I am charging Mr. Black with DUI 4th since he has had previous DUIs on 7/18/2020, 10/15/2021 and 10/31/2021. Two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Reckless Endangerment, Due Care, Failure to Maintain Lake, Child Restraint and Seat Belt Violation.”

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Black was taken to the Roane County Detention Center without incident. As of Friday morning, the conditions of the woman and child were unknown.

If you or someone you know is involved in a domestic violence situation, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website at www.thehotline.org .

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