(Smith County Insider Press) – On Friday, April 22, Trooper Brandon Jackson with the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to vehicle crash on Highway 85.
The passenger of the vehicle received serious injuries and was transported to Riverview Regional Medical Center.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 27-year old Bethany Sutton of Carthage, had fled the scene before authorities arrived.
A witness at the scene of the crash claims to have seen Sutton enter a white station wagon and leave.
Sutton failed to maintain safe control of her vehicle, leading her to run off the right side of the road, cross onto the property of three different residents, and cross back into the oncoming lane of traffic – striking a ditch off the left side of the roadway before coming to a stop.
A backpack was found in close proximity to the vehicle, having been ejected as a result of the crash.
Among the contents of the backpack were documents belonging to Sutton, including a photocopy of her driver’s license and social security card, as well as a pink bag containing the following: three pills identified as Buprenorphine – a Schedule III drug to which Sutton did not have a prescription for, two silver spoons with a crystal-like residue and burn marks on the bottom of them, three used needle syringes with a clear residue inside, one bag with a white residue, one bag with a black residue, and three weights.
Also found was a clear bag containing 48 pseudoephedrine hydrochloride pills, and inside the vehicle, a container of butane was located. Both of these are used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Paraphernalia with meth residue was also found, along with scale weights, indicating possible resale.
Sutton has been cited on multiple charges, including reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, simple possession of Schedule III, possession of drug paraphernalia, and promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing.
Sutton was later found and transported to the Smith County Jail Facility for booking.
Bethany Anne Sutton
