High Speed Chase Ends on Union Camp

According to Trooper Rodgers, 22-year-old Nathan Wayne Carver, of Lafayette, was driving east on Highway 52 and he turned right onto the RBS Road. Rodgers was also on 52, coming the other way, and he turned left onto RBS Road. “I got behind Carver and he started gaining speed,” said Trooper Rodgers. “Once I realized he was driving over the posted speed limit, I attempted to catch up to Carver.”

At this point they had reached Union Camp Road. “Carver turned right onto Union Camp Road at a high rate of speed, 60 mph plus already,” continued the Trooper. “At this time, I engaged my lights and siren to attempt to stop Carver for speeding. He failed to stop and continued at a high rate of speed.”
Nathan Carver then turned right on Dark Hollow Road and Trooper Rodgers realized he was in pursuit and the suspect wasn’t going to stop.

“Carver followed Dark Hollow to the intersection of Shrum Hollow Road,” said Rodgers. “He turned left onto Shrum Hollow and while he was on this roadway he was swerving his car back and forth in the gravel to try and create enough dust in hopes of he would lose me. He followed Shrum Hollow back to Union Camp and turned right there. He followed Union Camp to Sycamore Valley and turned right on that road. While on Sycamore Valley Road, Carver ran off the roadway on the right side and almost crashed. However, he was able to get the vehicle back onto Sycamore Valley Road and continued south at a high rate of speed.”

(The pursuit was continued due to no traffic. “We passed three cars in total while in pursuit and no one was injured.”)

Rodgers said that sparks were coming from under the car he was chasing but the vehicle continued on traveling into Trousdale County until they came to Big Creek Road. The suspect turned left onto Big Creek, which he followed until he came to the junction of Little Creek in Smith County. “We followed Little Creek to the junction of State Route 80 in Pleasant Shade,” said Trooper Rodgers. “Carver turned left onto SR 80, traveling north back toward Macon County. Trooper Cody Ballard was coming to assist  and he was on SR 52 in Macon County. The Macon County Sheriffs Office was also in route to assist. At this point, Trooper Ballard and I requested approval to use spike strips thru dispatch, which was approved. Ballard and I decided that he would deploy the strips at the intersection of State Route 80 and Union Camp Road if he continued his current course.”

Trooper Ballard positioned himself at that intersection to deploy the strips. Carver did continue on SR 80 while Trooper Rodgers was still in pursuit. “His speeds were slowing down to approximately 40 to 50 mph at this time,” noted Rodgers.

Once Carver reached the junction of Union Camp and SR 80 Trooper Ballard did deploy the spike strips and they were successful, deflating three of the four tires. “Carver still refused to surrender and turned onto Union Camp Road traveling westbound back toward Lafayette,” added Rodgers. “Carver’s vehicle was almost undriveable at this time and his speeds were down to 20 or 30 mph. But he was still refusing to stop his car.”

Trooper Rodgers decided to try and get in front of Carver’s car and force him to stop. “I did get in front of him and used my vehicle to try and force him to stop. He still refushed to stop and passed me on the left traveling in the wrong lane of traffic. Macon County Sheriffs Office Deputies Joseph Woodard and Elliott Sandifer were traveling eastbound to assist and Carver forced them off the roadway almost hitting them head on.”

Shortly after that, all the rubber on Carver’s tires came off and he was on the bare rims. Sparks were going everywhere and he finally came to a stop around the 7000 block of Union Camp Road.

“I excited my vehicle and approached Nathan Wayne Carver’s car on the driver’s side, ordered him to exit the vehicle, with my weapon drawn, and he refused,” said Trooper Rodgers. “I opened the driver’s side door and used physical force to remove Carver from the vehicle. Macon County Sheriffs Office Deputies, including Sandifer, Woodard, Freeman and Ashley Tharp, and also MCSO detective Darrell Taylor, had arrived at this point and secured the two passengers whose names were Devon McCall and Carver’s wife, Stephanie.”

Trooper Rodgers said that during the interview with Carver, it was discovered that he was under the influence of drugs. “Macon County EMS was dispatched to the scene for Stephanie Carver, who was hyperventilating. She was treated at the scene and released.”

Statements from the two passengers were obtained and they were released.

“Carver was arrested and transported to the Macon County Justice Center,” said Trooper Rodgers. “I charged him with DUI, 4 counts of felony reckless endangerment with a weapon, driving on a revoked license (2nd offense), possession of a legend drug, resisting arrest, reckless driving, felony evading in a vehicle, speeding, 2 stop sign violations, improper passing in a no passing zone.”

Nathan Wayne Carver has other warrants in Macon and Smith County for felony and misdemeanor charges.

Carver’s bond is set at $15,950. Court dates are set for February 11 and March 4.

“I would like to thank the Macon County Sheriffs Office, Macon County EMS, Trousdale County Sheriff’s Office, who were notified that they might be coming into their county and were ready to assist if they were needed,” said Rodgers.