From The Bell County Sheriff's Department -
On Sunday, June 25, 2023, Bell County Deputies Major Edwards and Samson Churchwell responded to a Middlesboro Dispatch call of a two-ATV collision near Apollo Fuels just outside of Middlesboro resulting in serious injuries for a woman and an arrest for a Middlesboro man.
A short time after 8:00 pm the deputies arrived on scene. Deputy Churchwell made contact with the driver of the first ATV, 20-year-old Zach Napier of Middlesboro, while Deputy Edwards spoke with the occupants of the second vehicle that had been impacted by the first.
The victims of the second ATV told Deputy Edwards that Napier had been driving at a high rate of speed and collided head-on with their vehicle on the driver’s side causing damage to their RZR as they were coming out of the area.
Deputy Churchwell states that upon contact with Napier, he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. Napier admitted to striking the RZR with his ATV as he was coming around a curve. He also stated that the passenger, his girlfriend, was thrown from his vehicle due to the impact. She was transported to Middlesboro ARH by Bell County EMS.
Deputy Churchwell administered standard field sobriety tests which determined Napier to be under the influence. He was transported to Pineville Community Hospital for a blood test and to be treated for his injuries and then to the Bell County Detention Center.
Zach Napier was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol – under the age of 21 .02-.07
No injuries were reported involving the occupants in the RZR.
Also assisting on scene were officers from the Middlesboro Police Department.