Steven Ray Buxton
The driver in an alleged hit-and-run that injured two female pedestrians on East Tennessee Avenue on Monday afternoon is facing more charges, in addition to aggravated assault, according to court records.
Steven Ray Buxton, 62, of Jefferson Avenue in Oak Ridge, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence, and failure to maintain a lane, according to arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.
The women were struck by a vehicle on East Tennessee Avenue near Towne Road at about 1:30 p.m. Monday as several pedestrians were crossing the road from Gallo Loco restaurant, which is on the south side of East Tennessee, to the north side of the road, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.
In a press release earlier this week, the ORPD said a black truck had stopped for the pedestrians while they crossed the street. A beige Toyota Corolla, which was traveling behind the black truck, drove onto the sidewalk, passing the black truck, and struck two women, the press release said. The Toyota Corolla then allegedly fled the scene.
“It was found through investigation and witness statements that the vehicle in question was impatient for a stopped vehicle allowing pedestrians to cross a crosswalk,” ORPD Officer Matthew R. Johnston said in the arrest warrants. “The vehicle then went around said vehicle and struck the two victims in the crosswalk.”
Witnesses reported that the vehicle then fled west on East Tennessee Avenue, and police said it was involved in two other crashes before the driver abandoned the car and attempted to flee. The press release said Buxton hit two vehicles in the Grove Center parking lot.
Buxton fled before officers arrived, Johnston said.
Officers searched the area and located the vehicle, the Toyota Corolla, near the Grove Market on Robertsville Road, according to the press release. The driver, who was identified as Buxton, was located a short distance away, and he was detained, authorities said.
Buxton remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Saturday morning.
The press release said the two women struck by the car had non-life threatening injuries. Both were taken to Methodist Medical Center for treatment. The women were identified as Aimee Wilson and Laura Cordell, both of Kingston.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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