Chase Ryan Klinedinst has been charged with DUI and child neglect after allegedly driving her SUV off a cliff with her two young children strapped inside.
The 28-year-old Tennessee mother was arrested following the Sept. 7 crash at Coffey’s Cliff, a popular railroad overlook in Chattanooga where her vehicle plunged 20 to 25 feet before landing upside down near the tracks below, according to police reports. Both children, secured in child safety seats, survived the fall that could have been fatal.
One child sustained serious injuries in the crash, including a fractured forearm and bruised lungs, and was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. The second child was examined by medical personnel and released the same day.
When first responders arrived at the scene, Klinedinst became aggressive toward them, police noted. Officers reported that she reeked of alcohol, and a search of the SUV turned up two bottles of wine — one empty and one unopened and still chilled.
Klinedinst was transported to a local hospital following the crash and placed on psychiatric hold, according to court documents. She now faces multiple charges including driving under the influence, child neglect, child abuse and neglect, and vehicular assault.
The incident unfolded when Klinedinst allegedly drove down a dirt path toward the cliff edge, sending the vehicle over the precipice and onto the railroad tracks below. The overlook, known among locals as Coffey’s Cliff, sits above active train lines in the Chattanooga area.
The crash prompted a multi-agency response to the remote location, where rescuers worked to extract the family from the overturned SUV. The children’s use of proper safety restraints is credited with preventing more severe outcomes from the significant fall.
Klinedinst’s psychiatric hold suggests authorities are evaluating her mental state alongside the criminal allegations. The charges encompassing both DUI and child-related offenses indicate prosecutors are pursuing the case on multiple fronts.
Court records obtained by local outlets detail the full scope of charges, which combine standard impaired driving allegations with enhanced counts related to having minors in the vehicle during the incident. The vehicular assault charge stems from injuries sustained by at least one of the children.
The crash occurred on a Saturday at the scenic overlook, which draws visitors for its views of passing trains but has also been the site of previous dangerous incidents. The dirt access path Klinedinst allegedly traveled ends at the cliff’s unprotected edge.