JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – In January, Derek L. Overbay led police on a12-mile chase that ended with an accident that left him pinned upside down in a car.

This month, he was indicted on a myriad of charges related to the pursuit.

Last week, the grand jury indicted Overbay for evading arrest, two counts of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of aggravated assault on a first responder and two counts of aggravated assault.

On a Sunday evening in January, police responded to a possible drunk driver on Highway 63.

Campbell County Deputy Grant Cole’s first encounter with Overbay, who was driving a 2005 silver Honda Accord, was when the Honda allegedly crossed over into Cole’s lane near Miller’s Bridge. The cruiser was headed east while Overbay was driving towards LaFollette.

Cole turned around, and when he caught up with the Honda, he allegedly saw Overbay cross into oncoming traffic almost hitting an oncoming car. Overbay kept driving then suddenly stopped in the middle of the road at Henegar Lane. The Honda then took off and accelerated to excessive speeds, the report said. As they passed Judy’s Grocery, the Honda over corrected and completely turned around in eastbound lane going in reverse toward an oncoming pick-up truck. The Honda, still out of control, struck the truck and then came to a rest in the front yard of a home on the corner of Brown Crest Road about a 100 yards east of the Fincastle Church, according to the report

Cole spoke to Overbay, who allegedly appeared to be very disoriented. Overbay became agitated and cursed at the deputy saying, “I’m not going to jail, you will have to kill me,” according to the report. The report also said a cooler of beer was seen in the car, and that one beer in the console was open.

As Cole tried to talk with Overbay, he allegedly pulled a knife and lunged through the window of the Honda toward the deputy. Cole jumped back and drew his weapon. Sgt. Justin Phillips arrived, and the confrontation with Overbay continued until he drove off  and had to be pursued by the officers.

Phillips, in the lead cruiser, followed Overbay east on Old Hwy 63 into Claiborne County where Overbay turned his car around at the Cawood Methodist Church and Back Valley Road heading back toward La Follette. Overbay allegedly drove the Honda into oncoming traffic, almost hitting Phillips’ patrol car.

Meanwhile, further west, Cole turned off Old Hwy 63 onto Seal Drive. He positioned his car to block a section of Old Highway 63 as Overbay was heading toward Seal Drive. Cole then radioed Overbay had crashed, flipping his car on its top and pinning himself inside, the report said.

Authorities from Claiborne County also responded to the scene. A landing zone was set up near the accident for a Kentucky medical helicopter to land and transport the Overbay to a Knoxville hospital.

Overbay remains housed in the Campbell County Jail on a $100,000 secure bond. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/19/2024-6AM)

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