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A police pursuit through Alcoa late Tuesday night ended when the suspect vehicle crashed into another car on Louisville Road — sending seven people to the hospital and one to jail.

The injured included a 4-month-old baby who was riding in the suspect's vehicle, Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said.

Joseph Edward Robinson, 28, Hembree Hollow Road, Townsend, was arrested on charges of felony evading arrest and driving on a suspended driver's license and was cited with having a broken taillight. He was being held in lieu of bonds totaling $6,000.

Berrong said Robinson was also wanted in Knox County on two warrants and said other charges against Robinson were possible in Blount County.

The incident began at 10:28 p.m. when Blount County Sheriff's Deputy Gregory Broderick attempted to stop Robinson, who was driving a green Ford Contour southbound on Alcoa Highway. Berrong said the suspect vehicle had a taillight that was out and the car was driving "erratically."

According to a Blount County Sheriff's Office report, Broderick observed Robinson's vehicle changing lanes near Vista Road, turned on his in-car camera and checked the car registration. As the vehicles neared Airbase Road, Broderick activated the cruiser emergency lights. The Ford Contour again changed lanes and accelerated to a high rate of speed.

Speeds of 100 mph

As the vehicle was changing lanes, the deputy activated the siren. He pursued Robinson southbound on Alcoa Highway at speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour, according to the report. As the vehicles approached the Hunt Road overpass, the speed was in excess of 100 miles per hour. There the speeding car and cruiser encountered traffic in both lanes.

Broderick reported that Robinson traveled into the right lane and then back to the left. As the pursuit approached the Hall Road split, the vehicle moved back into the right lane and continued down the U.S. 129 bypass in speeds of 100 miles per hour.

Berrong said the suspect turned onto the U.S. 129 Bypass and then "attempted to turn right onto Louisville Road from the bypass."

Broderick and Sgt. Randy Ailey reported that the vehicle crossed a grass median, then the westbound lane of Louisville Road, struck a concrete median and went airborne for 40.8 feet before striking a white 1995 Ford Mustang driven by David Scott McNish, 22, Little Dug Gap Road, Louisville.

"They thought he (Robinson) might have been impaired," Berrong said. "That's why they allowed the deputy to continue pursuing him. Unfortunately, it ended in an accident."

Fled on foot

Robinson fled on foot, leaving four passengers in the vehicle, including the baby, the report said. He was apprehended after a foot chase on the bypass shoulder in front of BB&T Bank.

Alcoa firefighters and members of the Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad extricated McNish from the Mustang.

All of the occupants of the Contour were taken to Blount Memorial Hospital and the occupants of the Mustang were taken to University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The passenger in McNish's vehicle was Brandy A. Breeden, 34, Rudd Hollow Road, Townsend.

Passengers in Robinson's vehicle were 4-month-old Chloe Renee Robinson, Hembree Hollow Raod, Townsend; Amanda Diane Smith, 28, Payne Avenue, Alcoa; Richard Allen Smith, 35, Payne Avenue, Alcoa; and Eva Victoria Shadrick, 27, Hembree Hollow Road, Townsend.

According to Blount Memorial Hospital staff, Chloe Robinson and Richard Smith were treated and released. McNish was treated at UT Medical Center and was released.

Robinson was treated for lacerations to his hands and then transported to jail. He will be required to appear a 9 a.m. Nov. 5 in Blount County General Sessions Court to address his local charges.

Blount County Sheriff's deputies reconstructed the accident scene, and Alcoa police officers and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers assisted.

Daily Times reporter Iva Butler contributed to this story.