A Kingsport motorist driving on a revoked license has been arrested after striking a construction sign and nearly running over a flagger, according to a police report, then fleeing the scene.
The man later told police he didn't see the worker, who reportedly dropped her stop sign and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit. Michael L. Austin, 40, of 340 Glen Avenue, faces several charges, including aggravated assault.
According to a Kingsport police report, the incident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. Monday. A 24-year-old female flagger was controlling traffic for a construction company working in the area of Virgil Avenue and Luray Place.
The woman told police a Honda driven by a white male had swerved and struck a construction sign. She said she was "trying to get his attention" but he kept traveling her direction, forcing her to drop her stop sign and jump out of the way.
The Honda reportedly continued through the construction zone before being stopped by a second flagger. This flagger told police that the driver said the tags displayed on his car were incorrect, then drove away.
Workers were able to obtain a tag number for the Honda, with subsequent investigation by police revealing it was registered to a Toyota belonging to Austin. The report says an officer located Austin at his residence on Glen Avenue. He allegedly stated that he didn't know he had almost hit a worker until he was stopped by the second flagger, adding it was an accident.
Austin was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, driving on a revoked license, failure to comply with financial responsibility and driving an unregistered vehicle.