Local reckless driver strikes again - in Tennessee

ONEIDA, Tenn. - A Celina man who was arrested in Darke County March 28 after driving on the wrong side of the road and fleeing police was arrested again Wednesday morning in Oneida, Tennessee, where he reportedly led police on a wild high-speed chase that ended when he crashed his vehicle through the wall of a McDonald's.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee reported what it called "a dramatic series of events that began when a concerned citizen approached a deputy at McDonald's in Oneida regarding a gray Ford F-150 that was driving in circles in the parking lot of the North-Town Plaza."
According to a news release, when local police officers attempted to "engage with the individual, the suspect fled the scene, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit south on Highway 27. The driver of the F-150 then turned around and began traveling back north on Highway 27, reaching speeds up to 90 mph and driving in the wrong lane of traffic. The pursuit continued when the individual ran a red light at the intersection of West 3rd Avenue in Oneida, striking another vehicle that was pulling out of the intersection."

Despite the collision, the suspect continued fleeing north on Highway 27, re-entering a four-lane section in Oneida before ramping onto the grass area of a McDonald's parking lot. The suspect then drove into the side of the restaurant, causing what the sheriff's office called "significant damage."

According to the release, "the suspect, later identified as Andrew Leininger, 40, of Ohio, exited the truck and ran behind the counter inside the McDonald's. Officers from the Scott County Sheriff's Office were able to apprehend Mr. Leininger and take him into custody without further incident."

There were no injuries reported in the incident.

The Scott County sheriff's release also reported that Leininger was in another high-speed pursuit earlier Wednesday morning with deputies from the Fentress County Sheriff's Office, who had put out a "BOLO" for the Ford F-150 Leininger was driving.

Leininger was arrested March 28 in Darke County after allegedly driving the wrong way on both Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 127. Preliminary investigation in Greenville revealed Leininger was traveling northbound on U.S. 127 in his blue Ford F-150 in the northbound lanes of the four-lane bypass, and then sideswiped a trailer being pulled by another pick-up truck just south of the U.S. Route 36 overpass, according to a Darke County Sheriff's Office report said. Leininger then crossed over to drive northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S. 127.

"While doing so, he struck a gray Toyota Tundra driven by Scott Price, 51, of Union City, that had been driving northbound on US Route 127 and was making a left hand turn towards Kruckeberg Road," the release from Sheriff Mark Whittaker stated.

Following the collision, Leininger ran from the crash scene towards the St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery on Marker Road in Greenville, where he was apprehended by two Greenville police officers.

At that time, Leininger was being held at the Darke County Jail on one count of obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony.

Wednesday in Tennessee, Leininger was charged with multiple offenses, including:

Due Care, Corrective Lens Restriction, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of Accident, Reckless Driving, Aggravated Assault, Failure to Maintain Single Lane, Driving Uninsured, Speeding, Felony Evading Arrest, DUI 2nd, Violation Implied Consent Law, Possession of Schedule VI, Failure to Stop and Render Aid, Seatbelt Law.

He was listed as an inmate at the Scott County Sheriff's Office detention facility as of Wednesday night.

The Oneida Police Department assisted the Scott County Sheriff's Department in the operation, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol was called to the scene to take over the investigation.