Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced that 21 year old Nathan O’Quinn of Clintwood, Virginia pled guilty to reckless driving and has been sentenced to 6 months in jail after he accelerated at high speeds away from Rangers, eluding arrest. The incident occurred on September 19, 2009 at 12:30 AM, when Park Rangers attempted to stop O’Quinn on the Foothills Parkway – Spur (U.S. 441) for excessive speed. O’Quinn, who accelerated away at speeds up to 114 mph with a female passenger on the back of his Suzuki 600 motorcycle, crossed double-yellow lines, passed on curves and nearly struck another vehicle head-on.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Chief Ranger Bill Wright said, “We have been seeing an increase in the number of individuals who are fleeing to elude arrest over the last few years. This type of behavior presents enormous risks, especially in the park with its narrow, curving roads and heavy traffic. “
“There seems to be a growing perception that fleeing into or through the National Park will allow the offender to escape.” Wright continued, “However, due to the limited number of exits from the park, those individuals are nearly always caught. Their actions prior to being stopped seriously jeopardize the safety and well-being of unsuspecting visitors and fellow motorists they encounter, and place the eluder in great risk of injury or death.”
Park managers stress that each instance is different, and in some cases, the subject may not be pursued at high speed by Rangers for reasons of safety. However, due to good communications with Rangers throughout the park, and continued excellent cooperation with law enforcement agencies surrounding the park, those individuals fleeing apprehension will still be caught and will face penalties that are often far stiffer than what they would receive for their original offense.
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