Chase Ryan Klinedinst, a 30-year-old Tennessee resident, is facing criminal charges after investigators say she drove her vehicle off a cliff with two young children inside. The incident occurred near a location known as Coffey's Cliff in Chattanooga, where Klinedinst was operating a Honda CR-V. According to an affidavit, the vehicle reached a dead-end road but continued forward, falling approximately 25 feet before plunging off a cliff and landing upside down near railroad tracks.
Both children were secured in safety seats during the crash. Investigators report that one child sustained a broken arm and a bruised lung, while the other was treated at a hospital and released. Klinedinst was also transported to the hospital following the incident.
Law enforcement officials stated that Klinedinst exhibited slurred speech, acted combatively toward medical personnel, and smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. During their investigation, officers found two bottles of wine inside the vehicle, with one of them empty. The Tennessee Highway Patrol serves as the charging agency in this case.
Klinedinst has been charged with two counts of child neglect, driving under the influence, and vehicular assault. She is scheduled to appear in court on November 17.