Media Advisory-Trooper Kyle Cantwell Put On Administrative Leave

Nashville, Tennessee — Department of Safety Commissioner David Mitchell has placed Trooper Kyle Cantwell on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation by Virginia State Police, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, THP’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Safety’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

The action comes after Trooper Kyle Cantwell engaged in a high-speed pursuit of a motorcycle in the early morning hours of Sunday August 19th on I-81 South in Sullivan County. At about 3:08 a.m., Trooper Cantwell advised dispatch that he had clocked a motorcycle at 140 mph on I-81 southbound at the 63 mile marker. During the pursuit, Trooper Cantwell advised dispatch that the motorcycle had exited I-81 onto Highway 36 before taking John B. Dennis Road and Bloomingdale Road and then on into Virginia. At approximately 3:30 a.m., Virginia authorities say a Scott County, Virginia deputy, who was simply in the area, witnessed the crash and reported a fatality at Virginia Route 224 & 704 involving a motorcyclist identified by Virginia authorities as 18 year-old Justin Wayne Thompson of Kingsport, Tennessee. Trooper Cantwell advised dispatch of the crash and that a Scott County, Virginia deputy was at the scene.

Both Virginia and Tennessee Authorities are working together to determine what caused the fatal crash. Forensic experts from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are assisting agents from the THP Criminal Investigation Division to examine Trooper Cantwell’s patrol car as part of a thorough investigation into the pursuit. The investigation by Tennessee authorities is also being coordinated with Virginia State Police to determine what caused the death of this individual. Virginia authorities are conducting a complete reconstruction of the crash scene, including a thorough examination of the motorcycle.

According to the preliminary report by Virginia authorities, the fatal vehicle was traveling north bound on Virginia Route 224, attempted to make right turn on Route 704, ran off the road on right and struck guardrail.

29 year-old Trooper Kyle Cantwell was commissioned in January 2004 and is assigned to Sullivan County in the Fall Branch District.

Pending the investigation, this is all the Department of Safety can release at this time.