A Carter County man faces charges after police say he struck another vehicle head-on and then fled the scene of the crash.

Officers of the Elizabethton Police Department arrested Larry Trivette, 39, 1344 Broad St., on Tuesday and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, second offense driving on a suspended license, and violation of financial responsibility.

Around 4:30 p.m., officers of the Elizabethton Police Department responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of West Elk Avenue and Bemberg Road. A 911 caller told dispatchers a black Toyota 4-Runner struck a white Nissan Rouge and left the scene traveling toward Carter Boulevard. While some officers responded to the location of the crash others began searching for the vehicle which reportedly fled the accident scene.

Officers on the scene spoke with the driver of the Nissan, identified as Sheila Groce, and her husband Robert Groce, who was a passenger in the vehicle. Mrs. Groce told officers she was turning left from Bemberg Road onto West Elk Avenue when she was struck head-on by the Toyota.

According to police reports, emergency medical personnel were treating Mrs. Groce at the scene for neck and chest pain and were treating Mr. Groce for abdominal and rib pain. Both Mr. and Mrs. Groce were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

A witness at the scene told officers she was sitting in the turning lane on West Elk Avenue waiting to make a left turn onto Bemberg Road when she saw the Toyota drive around her vehicle into the oncoming lane of travel and strike the Nissan head-on.

Another witness to the crash told officers the Nissan left the scene and turned onto Parkway Boulevard but she lost sight of the SUV as it approached the intersection with Southside Road.

Officers later located the suspect vehicle parked behind the home at 940 Parkway Boulevard. Officers noted the SUV had heavy damage to the front end.

“(Patrol Officer Justin) Pearce then advised he had spoken with several subjects at the residence, but they were denying to be the driver. (Officer) Pearce advised a male subject named Larry Trivette then admitted to being the driver of the vehicle,” said Officer Dustin Johnson, adding he then went to the home to speak with Trivette. “Mr. Trivette then admitted to striking the Nissan Rogue and then fleeing the scene. Mr. Trivette stated his driver’s license was suspended and ‘he didn’t know what to do.’”

Officers arrested Trivette and transported him to the Carter County Detention Center. Trivette was later released from the jail after posting a $3,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on June 27.