Police say the vehicle fell about 20 to 25 feet and landed upside down near railroad tracks, injuring one of two children inside.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A 30-year-old Tennessee mother faces criminal charges after authorities say she drove a vehicle off a Chattanooga cliff with her two children inside, sending the car about 20 to 25 feet down before it landed upside down near railroad tracks.
Chase Klinedinst was charged with two counts of child neglect, driving under the influence and vehicular assault following the Sept. 7 crash, according to an affidavit obtained by WVLT News. One of the children suffered a fractured forearm and injuries to the lungs and was taken to an emergency room. Both children had been secured in child restraint seats, investigators said. Klinedinst has not been convicted of the charges.
Authorities responded at about 8:30 p.m. to the area of Sholar Avenue and Stuart Street in Chattanooga. According to the affidavit, Klinedinst had been traveling on Stuart Street when she reached the end of the roadway and continued onto a dirt path leading toward Coffey’s Cliff, an elevated area above a train yard.
Investigators said the vehicle continued along the path, rounded a bend and went over the edge. The car came to rest upside down beside railroad tracks below. Railroad operations on one line were temporarily suspended because of the crash, according to police accounts cited by local news outlets.
Authorities said the two children were found inside the vehicle after the crash. One child was taken for emergency treatment and diagnosed with a broken forearm and pulmonary contusions, a type of injury involving bruising to the lungs. Reports reviewed Thursday did not identify the children, and their ages were not released in the main local report. Authorities did not report life-threatening injuries to either child.
Police also described Klinedinst’s condition as first responders worked to remove her from the overturned vehicle and bring her back up the cliff. The affidavit alleged that she had slurred speech and resisted medical personnel who were trying to assist her. Officers also reported detecting a strong odor they believed was associated with alcohol.
Investigators reported finding an empty wine bottle inside the vehicle as well as a second unopened bottle. Those details are contained in the police account of the investigation and form part of the allegations supporting the criminal charges. The evidence and allegations have not yet been tested at trial, and the filing of charges does not establish guilt.
The incident resulted in multiple criminal counts tied both to the alleged impaired driving and the presence of the children. Klinedinst faces two child neglect counts along with DUI and vehicular assault charges. Public reports reviewed Thursday did not indicate that a court had reached a finding on any of those allegations.
The crash occurred more than a month before the case received broader attention in October as details from the affidavit were reported by Tennessee media and distributed by Gray News. Authorities have not publicly released additional details explaining why the vehicle continued beyond the end of Stuart Street, and the available court account does not establish an intent to drive off the cliff.
Klinedinst’s next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 17, according to WVLT. The criminal case remains pending, and no final determination has been made on the allegations against her.
Author note: Last updated October 15, 2026.