Dale Phipps, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

http://KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

20-165567 (Incident Report)

On April 14, 2021 the findings of this investigation were presented to a Sullivan County Grand Jury which resulted in a 7-count true bill of indictment, charging Christopher Charles Muraski with the following:

1) Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication

2) Vehicular Homicide

3) Felony Reckless Endangerment

4) Driving Under the Influence

5) Driving Under the Influence with over .08 BAC

6) Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Collision with Injury

7) Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Collision Resulting in Death

On April 26, 2021 Mr. Muraski turned himself in on the outstanding warrant at the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville. He has since been released after posting a $30,000 bond.

As previously released:

On August 4, 2020 shortly after 12:00 Noon, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian on Interstate 26/U.S. 23 near the West Stone Drive interchange in Kingsport. Due to the serious nature of the incident, Crash Reconstructionists with the K.P.D. Traffic Unit were called to the scene to investigate. Their findings thus far are as follows:

A work crew was operating out of a white 2012 Ford F-550 truck owned by South East Mowing, LLC of Blountville. The F-550 was parked completely off the paved surface in the grass median on the westbound side of I-26/U.S 23. One member of the work crew was inside the F-550 as a passenger. Another member of the work crew, Stephen Colby Blackmon, was standing to the side of the F-550 adjacent to the roadway, but in the grass median completely off the pavement.

Meanwhile, a white 2014 Ford F-150 pickup, driven and solely occupied by Christopher C. Muraski, was westbound on I-26/U.S 23. Muraski’s F-150 veered off the left side of the roadway, side-swiped the F-550, and then struck Mr. Blackmon who was ultimately killed by the impact.

Mr. Muraski did not stop, but rather continued along U.S. 23 into the State of Virginia. Thanks to excellent communication by an eyewitness, the F-150 was located and stopped by the Weber City Police Department, and Mr. Muraski was arrested by that agency on independent but related charge(s). Specific inquiries regarding his arrest or his charge(s) in Virginia will be referred to the Weber City Police Department.

The Kingsport Police Department would like to thank the witness and the Weber City Police Department for their invaluable assistance with Mr. Muraski’s apprehension.

The investigation into this crash remains active and ongoing by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit with charges pending. As such, additional details neither can, nor will, be released at this time.

42 Years of Age

Knoxville, TN

2) Vehicular Homicide

3) Felony Reckless Endangerment

4) Driving Under the Influence

5) Driving Under the Influence with over .08 BAC

6) Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Collision with Injury

7) Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Collision Resulting in Death

Suspect

Blountville, TN

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton