Arrest Made in Connection with Fatal Crash

A Morristown couple has been arrested and are being questioned about their connection with the traffic crash which killed a 16 year old girl and the subsequent false report filed on Tuesday.

Lex Dienst, 40, is believed to have been driving the Nissan Versa that struck two pedestrians-37 year old Christal Cupp and her daughter- as they walked along Joe Hall Road on Tuesday morning.  Christal Cupp remains hospitalized.

After fleeing the scene, Lex Dienst allegedly called his wife, to whom the car is registered, and told her to report to police that the car had been stolen.

Kristi Dienst, 29, has been charged with filing a false police report.

Lex Dienst is being held currently on a Violation of Probation charge. 

Additional charges are expected later today against the pair.

The couple has been sought by the Morristown Police Department since Tuesday evening and were located by the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office this afternoon.

MPD Chief Roger Overholt stated, “the results in this case underscore the importance of multiple agencies combining their resources and drawing on support from the community to get results.  We would like to thank the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office personnel and agents from the US Marshals Service for their assistance. Claiborne County officers played a vital role in apprehending the suspects”.

Chief Overholt continued, “officers and detectives of the MPD have worked diligently for many hours since the incident occurred to identify and arrest the individuals responsible for the child’s death”.

The couple may have been assisted by family members and additional individuals may be charged as the investigation continues to unfold.