Cookeville, TN : Man died in a crash while fleeing a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper on Interstate 40 East on Tuesday afternoon, April 28, 2015

Interstate 40 East in Putnam County was partially blocked for several hours Tuesday due to a fatal crash involving two vehicles.

The crash was first reported at mile marker 295 just before 4 p.m. The roadway reopened before 10 p.m.

A traffic stop turned into a high-speed chase, according to Lt. Bill Miller, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

"It does not need to escalate into a situation like we saw today," Miller said.

Miller said that a trooper stopped Richard Stafford, 63, of Crossville, for a traffic violation on I-40. When the trooper went back to her cruiser to process Stafford's information, he suddenly drove away.

A police chase ensued with speeds up to 100 mph, Miller said. Stafford drove a mile before crashing into a tractor trailer.

Troopers found Stafford's body underneath the vehicle. A crash report indicated he was not wearing a seat belt.

"The driver dictated the situation and put themselves in this situation," Miller said.

THP officials called this a tragic accident that serves as a reminder to always expect the unexpected.

"The trooper made a traffic stop, which we do every day, but every traffic stop can turn and go a totally different direction," Miller said.

THP's Criminal Investigation Division and Critical Response Team were on the scene. Neither the trooper nor the truck driver were injured in the wreck.

Miller said drugs and alcohol possibly played a factor in this crash. THP is awaiting the results of a toxicology report.

Source :
Man who fled police on I-40 East killed in crash