Anderson Josuan Perdomo Escobar, 19, is accused of slamming his Nissan Altima into a motorcyclist at an intersection in Cedar Bluff, Tennessee, and then fleeing the scene without stopping to help — only to be identified and ultimately incriminated by his own family members who provided police with video evidence of his attempts to cover up the crime.
Background
The collision occurred Thursday night at approximately 9 p.m. at the intersection of Dutchtown and Bob Kirby roads in Knox County, according to warrants obtained by regional CBS affiliate WVLT. Perdomo Escobar was driving through the Cedar Bluff area, located just west of Knoxville, when he struck the motorcyclist who was also on the road at that time.
The victim — whose identity has not been released by authorities — was transported to an area hospital following the crash and later succumbed to their injuries. Rather than stopping to render aid or alert emergency responders, Perdomo Escobar allegedly continued driving directly to his residence, leaving the critically injured motorcyclist behind at the scene.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect vehicle as a Nissan Altima and traced it to Perdomo Escobar's home address. When Knox County Sheriff's Office detectives arrived, they were met by family members who cooperated fully with the investigation — providing critical video footage that would become central to the case against him.
The Investigation
The video obtained from Perdomo Escobar's own household depicted his Nissan Altima arriving home that night with visible damage consistent with a high-impact collision. According to warrants, the footage showed what appeared to be the aftermath of the crash before he allegedly removed the vehicle's license plate and relocated the car to the side of the residence.
When detectives interviewed Perdomo Escobar, he allegedly admitted to being involved in the crash but claimed he fled the scene "because he was scared." He has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident knowing death resulted — a charge that carries significant weight given the victim's fatal injuries — as well as tampering with evidence and driving without a valid license.
Knox County jail records confirm Perdomo Escobar is being held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in addition to facing the state criminal charges. His arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday in Knox County Criminal Court, where he will face these serious allegations before a judge.
Key Takeaways
- Anderson Josuan Perdomo Escobar, 19, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident knowing death resulted, tampering with evidence, and driving without a license
- The collision occurred at Dutchtown and Bob Kirby roads in Cedar Bluff, Tennessee — just west of Knoxville — around 9 p.m. Thursday
- The victim was taken to an area hospital where they later died from injuries sustained in the crash
- Family members provided investigators with video footage showing Perdomo Escobar arriving home with a damaged vehicle before he allegedly removed the license plate and moved the car
- Perdomo Escobar admitted involvement to detectives, telling them he left the scene because he was scared
- He is being held for ICE custody in addition to facing state criminal charges
What's Next
Perdomo Escobar faces his arraignment hearing where formal charges will be presented. Prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on the video evidence provided by family members, which documents both the damage to the vehicle and the subsequent attempts at concealment. The charge of leaving the scene knowing death resulted carries substantial prison time upon conviction, should guilt be established. Defense attorneys have not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue processing the crash scene evidence and coordinating with ICE regarding the defendant's immigration status, which may factor into how the case proceeds through Knox County Criminal Court.