KINGSPORT, TN – Friday at approximately 9:45 PM, Kingsport Police Officers responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian in the 4200 block of Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport.
A red 2007 Toyota Yaris, driven by Joseph C. Dick of Kingsport, was northbound on Fort Henry Drive when it struck a pedestrian, Brenda L. Tyree of Rocky Mount, VA, as she was crossing the road.
Rather than stop to render aid, Dick fled the scene of the crash to the parking lot of a nearby business where he stopped to inspect the damage to his vehicle.
Dick tore loose a dangling front bumper cover, discarded it in the grass, and then completely fled the area in his vehicle.
Tyree was critically injured in the collision and was transported to an area hospital by Sullivan County E.M.S. for emergency medical treatment.
She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Officers were quickly able to track down Dick at his residence, located at 1444 Warpath Drive in Kingsport, where his damaged vehicle was found parked in his own driveway.
After extensive further investigation, to include an inspection of the vehicle, a review of the statements of multiple eye-witnesses, and an interview with Dick himself, he was ultimately arrested and charged with the following:
• Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication
• Driving Under the Influence
• Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Collision Resulting in Death
• Failure to Render Aid/Give Information
• Failure to Report a Motor Vehicle Collision
• Criminal Attempt to Tamper with Evidence
• Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia
Dick is being held at the Kingsport City Jail under a $50,000 bond.
