Man Who Dropped Ladder On I-75 Arrested

The man who was responsible for dropping a ladder into the roadway on I-75 last week…starting a chain of events that ended in the death of a Loudon County Deputy…has been arrested and charged. Witnesses on the morning of February 3rd saw an orange fiberglass ladder fall unsecured from a white utility van. That ladder landed in the middle of the roadway blocking part of I-75 near MM 73. Police say that 35 year old Sonny Beason of Loudon County was driving that van. He was driving on a suspended license and now faces three misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment. That ladder being in the roadway led to the death of Loudon County deputy Chris Jenkins…a 20 year veteran with the force.

Hundreds came out to pay their respects to Sgt. Jenkins at the Loudon High School last night during a memorial service. Some people waited outside for over an hour to get in to pay their respects. A memorial service in scheduled for today at 1pm at Loudon High School….that will be followed by a funeral procession to the gravesite.