THP: Father reported vehicle in Loudon fatal crash as stolen

LENOIR CITY — The SUV that a 24-year-old man was driving when he was killed in an early Monday morning crash in Loudon County was owned by his father, who had reported the vehicle stolen earlier, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Christopher Bellnier of Lenoir City was driving a westbound 2002 Dodge Durango on Interstate 40 when he lost control of the vehicle in a curve on the ramp to Interstate 75 South, according to Trooper Philip Wagner. The Dodge struck a guardrail at a high rate of speed, went airborne and flipped several times, Wagner said.

Wagner said today that the SUV was owned by Bellnier’s father, who later told police that he hadn’t realized his son had taken the vehicle.

The SUV was involved in a minor hit-and-run accident near downtown Knoxville about 2:45 a.m., and Wagner estimates that the fatal crash happened about 3:30 a.m. although there’s no way to be certain.

The crash wasn’t discovered for more than five hours because the SUV plunged down a steep embankment after flipping over the guardrail, Wagner said. Bellnier was ejected from the vehicle as it “somersaulted and took some trees out” during its tumble down the slope, he said.

Bellnier’s license had been revoked at the time of the crash, but Wagner said it wasn’t immediately clear why.

Bellnier wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, Wagner reported, and blood tests are being performed to determine if alcohol or drugs were involved.



Lenoir City man killed when SUV flips on I-75 ramp

LENOIR CITY - A 24-year-old man was killed this morning when the SUV he was driving flipped off the interstate in Loudon County, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Christopher Bellnier of Lenoir City was driving a westbound 2002 Dodge Durango on Interstate 40 when he lost control of the vehicle in a curve on the ramp to I-75 South, a THP report said. The Dodge struck a guardrail, went airborne and flipped several times, the report said.

Bellnier wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, the report said.

It wasn’t clear when the wreck happened but the accident was discovered about 9:15 a.m., a THP dispatcher said.
 


Driver killed in crash in vehicle reported as stolen
WBIR.COM

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports a Lenoir City driver killed in a crash early Monday morning was driving a vehicle reported as stolen.

Christopher Bellnier, 24 and of Lenoir City, was found dead around 9 a.m. near Mile Marker 83 at the I-40/I-75 split in Loudon County.

The THP believes the crash happened around 3:30 a.m.

Bellnier was apparently ejected from a 2002 Dodge Durango after flipping over a guardrail at a high rate of speed. That vehicle had been reported as stolen.

The THP has asked a medical examiner test for the presence of drugs and alcohol; the fatal crash report does not indicate a presence at this time.

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3/24/09