Newport, TN : Knoxville man killed in a motorcycle crash following a police chase in Cocke County early Sunday morning, June 26, 2016

A Knoxville man was killed early Sunday morning after he failed to negotiate a curve during a chase with police in Cocke County and struck a guard rail, authorities said.

According to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, drugs and alcohol may have been a factor in the crash that killed 36-year-old Brent Cunningham.

Cunningham, 36, on a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle traveling west on Interstate 40 in Cocke County while being pursued by officers of the Newport Police Department. It was during the pursuit that the fatal crash occurred.

Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults said officers witnessed Cunningham's motorcycle going 65 mph in a 40 mph zone and initiated a traffic stop. Cunningham sped away and got onto I-40. The chief said the motorcyclist at one point covered 2.3 miles in a minute and 20 seconds.

The chief said the investigation will show Cunningham fled because he was in possession of drugs and a weapon and he was operating the motorcycle on a revoked license.

"It's never our goal to have anyone lose their life. The best option is always to stop and let the officers do what they do instead of fleeing at such a high rate of speed," Shults said. "As always, we hate the results. We hate that he fled to the point that he was involved in an accident and took his life. Again, that's never the result that we would want. Our desire is for people to stop and we're able to perform our duties."

The officer was not involved in the accident.

A copy of video from the officer's dashboard camera has been forwarded to the THP.

Source :
Knoxville man killed in Cocke County crash during police pursuit