Knoxville Police Stop 70-Year-Old Driver Who Hit 9 Cars After 1 Too Many at a Steakhouse
Residents at the Moss Grove Apartments in Knoxville, Tennessee woke up to a parking lot that looked like the leftovers from a Monster Truck event. According to police, a 70-year-old neighbor had tried to make it home after drinks at a nearby steakhouse and ended up striking a slew of parked cars along the way.
Police responded just after sunset
Knoxville Police Department spokesperson Scott Erland reported that officers arrived on Sapling Grove Way around 7:15 p.m. They found Cynthia Ensor, who lives at the complex, still with her car and showing “clear signs” of impairment.
He explained that she told officers she had just left the Chop House, a restaurant only moments away, where she had been drinking. According to WVLT 8, officers also found “evidence of alcohol consumption” inside her vehicle.
Ensor had minor injuries. Medics took her to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for evaluation. She was later booked on several charges, including driving under the influence.
The bigger mess sits in the parking lot
Police say nine vehicles now carry dents, scrapes, and broken lenses.
This is where the insurance questions start. Some car insurers carry exclusions for DUI-related crashes, especially on the driver’s own policy. The innocent owners could be in for an administrative circus.
If the at-fault driver’s insurer denies their claims due to DUI, their own collision coverage can step in…if they have it. They would need to come up with their plan’s deductible, too.
Carriers usually pursue their payout funds in court after, which can take months or even years. If the insurance company is ever paid back, they’d also reimburse their policyholder’s deductible.
If Ensor’s policy has any DUI limitations, the fallout could turn expensive fast. Tennessee law still holds impaired drivers responsible for damages, so recovery efforts can follow long after the tow trucks leave.
Repair shops will document every damaged panel and part, and adjusters will tally the repair bills. When nine cars are involved, those bills stack up quickly.
