A man who crashed his four-wheeler on Mt. Zion Road, leaving himself critically injured, faces charges for operating the off-road vehicle while intoxicated.
Steven Ray Wimberly, 33, of Readyville, has been indicted on charges of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and DUI.
Wimberly crashed his Suzuki QuadRacer at the intersection of Mt. Zion Road and Viola Highway (Highway 108) this spring. He was reportedly lost when he approached the highway, not realizing he was coming upon the intersection.
“He was heading northbound on Mt. Zion near the intersection with Highway 108 when he crested a hill and lost control,” said Highway Patrol Sgt. Billy Prater. “He then went off the right side of the road when his ATV proceeded to roll over.”
Wimberly was thrown clear of the wreckage and was found lying in the road. He was airlifted from the scene by LifeForce helicopter to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.
An investigation revealed Wimberly was riding with a group of friends when he became separated from the group. It is suspected he was trying to find his friends when he came upon the crest of the hill and was caught by surprise by the road in front of him. Investigators believe Wimberly was under the influence, leading to his drunken driving charge. He was not wearing a helmet.