December 17, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Have you seen 29-year-old Matthew Braswell?
Local and state authorities have been looking for Braswell since he fled into the woods after a crash on Ponder Road Friday morning. His whereabouts remain unknown.
When he is found Braswell will have some explaining to do to law enforcement officers.
According to Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Braswell was a passenger of a 2006 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 26-year-old Danny Phillips of McMinnville when they were spotted by a resident going through the mail of his mailbox on Ponder Road.
As the resident came out of his home to confront them, the truck sped away but then went out of control and struck several trees at the edge of the road. The two men then bailed out of the truck and fled into the woods. Phillips was quickly captured but Braswell got away and hasn’t been seen since. Even Braswell’s girlfriend claims she has not heard from him. Phillips was transported by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and later taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he remains hospitalized.
Local and state authorities including members of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit conducted a ground search for Braswell Friday but to no avail. A THP helicopter flight crew was summoned Monday to join the effort with an aerial search but there was no sign of Braswell other than his white and gray jacket, which was found in the woods about a half mile from the crash site.
Authorities are concerned about Braswell’s condition fearing that he might still be out there in the woods somewhere with serious injuries from the wreck. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and possibly a white tank top shirt. He stands six feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. His hair is brown in color, and he has facial tattoes. His last known address is Lebanon.
If you have seen Braswell or know of his whereabouts call the Tennessee Highway Patrol at 423-954-2130.