70-Mile, 4-County Car Chase Ends In Donelson

DONELSON, TN — A man sped away from a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Cookeville Saturday morning, kicking off a 70-mile-plus car chase that stretched across four Middle Tennessee counties, according to police.

A state trooper attempted to stop a blue Nissan Maxima near mile marker 273 Saturday, but the car accelerated away from the highway patrolman and pressed west.

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Despite spike strips deployed in both Wilson and Davidson counties, the driver — later identified as 23-year-old Dontre Antonio Woodruff — was able to avoid authorities from Putnam, Smith, Wilson and Davidson counties for more than an hour.

He exited the interstate at the Lebanon Pike exit in Donelson and continued to flee. Eventually, law enforcement lost sight of the car, but Woodruff crashed and was apprehended. Police said he and an adult passenger both had revoked licenses and that a 2-year-old was in the backseat. The adults had minor injuries, but the toddler was OK.

Woodruff was arrested and returned to Putnam County and is charged with reckless endangerment, evading arrest, reckless driving, and driving on a revoked license.

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