Carter County Sheriff’s Office provides details on Stateline Theater crash

Published 8:12 am Monday, July 15, 2019

The Carter Count Sheriff’s Office provided more details about the squad car that crashed into the Stateline Drive-In on Highway 19E Thursday.

Sgt. Michael Malone said they were notified of a gold/maroon truck that failed to stop for Elizabethton City Police.

The chase began going through the double bridges towards Hampton, going through First Avenue, onto Swimming Pool Road, and then to Highway 321, where the passenger jumped out of the vehicle and surrendered to police.

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Deputy Caleb Rojek said he heard the chase on the radio and began heading southbound on 19E.

“After passing the red light at the intersection of Siam and 19E, I noticed a vehicle initiate its breaks in the left lane in front of myself and I began to go into the right lane,” Rojek said.

At that point, he said a green jeep came into the same lane at the same time.

“At this time, I began to go into the emergency lane when I began losing control,” Rojek said. “I swerved left and right and then went into the ditch and went side ways sliding on into the building attached to Stateline Drive-In movie theater.”

The driver, Keith McNabb, eventually left the vehicle and began a foot chase, which ended with his arrest.

McNabb is currently facing charges of driving with a revoked/suspended license, evading arrest, reckless endangerment and drug paraphernalia, among others.