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BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. -- A weekend crash at an upper East Tennessee go-kart raceway prompted a brawl between the drivers' families - and the arrest of a Virginia resident who allegedly struck a man in the head with a steering wheel. The suspect, who is charged with aggravated assault, said he hit the victim "to protect" his grandson following the on-track collision.
The incident occurred during an event Saturday night at Beechnut Raceway in Blountville, Tenn.
A report at the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office says police arrived to find the suspect, David Matney, 63, of Abingdon, Va., attempting to flee the scene.
Track officials were reportedly pursuing Matney, who tried to maneuver his Hummer past the four police cruisers entering the venue. When Matney "finally stopped" and was detained, multiple witnesses began relaying the incident.
Matney's grandson and another driver had wrecked during a race. Track officials and EMTs had to physically restrain Matney's grandson after the crash, as he allegedly attacked the other driver and "wouldn't stop fighting."
Witnesses said the other driver's father, a 33-yearold Cedar Bluff, Va., man, attempted to shield his son from the attack. That's when Matney allegedly walked up with the steering wheel of his grandson's go-kart in hand, hitting the other driver's father in the back of the head. An offduty Washington County deputy on hand for the race restrained Matney.
When asked why he had attacked, Matney allegedly said he was protecting his grandson and the steering wheel, "was what I had in my hand."
A report on the incident says the victim had two large bulges protruding from the back of his head. Matney was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and released after posting $7,500 bond.
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