A Monroe County government employee was injured in a car wreck in Sweetwater Friday night and will be facing charges once he gets out of the hospital.
According to a Sweetwater Police Department report, Wayne Davis, 48, crashed his Toyota pickup truck into a utility pole on Sweetwater-Vonore Road.

Davis works for the Solid Waste Department and his job is to drive inmates around as they pick up trash along the roadways.
Davis was not on duty when the wreck occurred.

SPD Officer Nick Farrell's report said Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Turpin saw Davis driving at a high rate of speed on Industrial Park Road.
Turpin told Farrell he saw Davis attempt to make a left turn onto Sweetwater-Vonore Road, however Davis' truck ran up on the sidewalk then crossed both lanes before striking the pole.
Farrell said Davis, who had to be transported to UT Medical Center because of his injuries, smelled of alcohol.

According to Farrell, a family member on the wreck scene said Davis was drunk and he had tried to keep him from leaving his house.
Farrell took out a warrant against Davis for DUI and wrote citations against him for not having insurance and for driving without a seat belt.
County Mayor Allan Watson said Monday, county officials will assess the situation when Davis is formally charged.

Watson said Davis was still in the ICU Monday and had not been booked at the Monroe County Jail.
The county mayor said his first hope is for Davis to recover.
For now Davis is on medical leave, Watson said.
"I understand there could be charges, we will have to wait and see what they are," Watson said. "We will deal with it."

The county mayor said he did not know of any problems Davis has ever had on the job.
"Wayne has been a real good employee," Watson said.
Watson said if any charges resulted in the loss of Davis' driving license, that would obviously be a major issue because of Davis' job requirements.

tommy.millsaps@avocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101