Knoxville, Tenn. – A Knoxville man is facing a series of charges following a road rage incident that ended with a rollover crash on Interstate 40 early on the morning of February 23. According to a police report obtained by WVLT News, the incident began when the driver, identified as James Pappageorge, allegedly engaged in dangerous driving that ultimately led to a crash and multiple injuries.
The situation unfolded just before midnight, when a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was conducting a traffic stop on I-40 East near mile marker 396. The trooper noticed two vehicles speeding toward his patrol car. One of the vehicles, a Nissan Altima, driven by Pappageorge, swerved onto the shoulder of the highway behind the patrol car, reportedly in an attempt to run a Hyundai Sonata off the road.
After speeding past the patrol car and narrowly missing it, the Hyundai stopped behind the trooper, and the three occupants inside explained that Pappageorge had been involved in a crash with them, which quickly escalated into road rage.
According to the trooper, Pappageorge continued to drive recklessly after the altercation, attempting to pass a tractor-trailer and a Lincoln Navigator a mile down the road. Pappageorge’s vehicle collided with the Lincoln, causing the Nissan to flip onto its roof.
When authorities spoke with Pappageorge, they noted a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. Additionally, it was revealed that Pappageorge had a suspended driver’s license and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
An investigation determined that the road rage incident had begun at a gas station on Asheville Highway, where an earlier altercation took place, leading to Pappageorge chasing the Hyundai onto I-40 and intentionally attempting to force it off the road.
Pappageorge was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash, while two occupants of the Lincoln Navigator were also taken to LeConte Medical Center with minor injuries.
As a result of the incident, Pappageorge is facing more than a dozen charges, including multiple counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, and driving under the influence (DUI). The crash has highlighted the dangers of road rage and impaired driving, with law enforcement urging drivers to remain calm and avoid escalating confrontations on the road.
