Truck driver faces DUI, homicide, gun charges for the death of Tennessee police officer

A Texas truck driver is facing multiple serious charges related to the death of a Loudon County Sheriff’s Office who was struck while trying to clear a ladder from the roadway on Thursday.

Houston-based truck driver Christopher Savannah, 43, has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular homicide by recklessness, two counts of reckless endangerment, DUI, simple possession, possession of a handgun under the influence, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office.

The charges were issued after Loudon County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Sgt. Chris Jenkins was killed while responding to a report of debris in the roadway in Loudon County, Tennessee, around 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Jenkins was attempting to remove a ladder from I-75 at mile marker 74 when he was struck by a semi truck driven by Savannah and died from his injuries a short time later.

“Sgt. Jenkins with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to remove a ladder from the roadway. Multiple vehicles had slowed due to Sgt. Jenkins conducting a rolling road block before stopping on the right shoulder. Vehicle one struck vehicles two and four before striking Sgt. Jenkins,” a Tennessee Highway Patrol report stated.

No other injuries were reported.

The truck also struck Jenkins’ police cruiser and two other vehicles.

Local outlet WVLT reports that Savannah had marijuana in his system when he was later tested for substance use.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol used handcuffs belonging to Sergeant Jenkins to arrest Savannah, according to the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office.