Warrants: Driver who crashed stolen car into river had slurred speech, trouble staying awake

 

CLAXTON—The Knoxville man who crashed a car reported as stolen into Bull Run Creek on Wednesday, prompting a nighttime search of the water with the help of divers, had slurred speech and trouble staying awake, authorities said.

Darrell Wayne Bouck Jr., 38, of Byington Solway Road, has been charged with driving under the influence; theft of more than $1,000; stolen plate; no driver’s license; and a due care violation, according to traffic citations, arrest warrants, and a preliminary crash report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The license plate and the vehicle, identified as a 2003 Honda Civic in the traffic citations, had been reported stolen in Knox County, according to the warrants, which were filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 7:53 p.m. Wednesday on New Henderson Road in Claxton, near Bull Run Park.

Bouck was the driver and only occupant of the northbound Civic when it left the two-lane road, struck two wooden barrier posts on the shoulder, rolled over, and entered a wide river-like section of the creek, according to the THP report. New Henderson Road runs parallel to the creek and is up an embankment from the water.

Two witnesses pulled Bouck from the river, the THP said. The two men have been reported to have been working at a nearby home.

An Anderson County EMS ambulance took Bouck to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where he submitted to a blood draw, according to the arrest warrants, which were filed by Steven Ward of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Bouck remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Friday evening. His bond has been set at $7,000. He has a hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. March 22.

Authorities spent more than two hours searching the water Wednesday night to make sure there was no one else in the car. Among those who helped search were divers from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad. Besides the THP, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Claxton Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

Rescuers said the car was found about 35 feet from shore. It was completely submerged. Rescuers were able to pull out the car, with the help of divers, at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

See previous story here.