By JEFF FARRELL

Staff writer

SEVIERVILLE — A Myrtle Beach man appears headed to a trial on charges he caused a multicar wreck last Labor Day that resulted in multiple injuries.

Randy D. Zlobec is in the Sevier County Jail awaiting trial on charges including DUI, vehicular assault, failure to stop and render aid, reckless driving, criminal impersonation, failure to wear a seat belt and four counts of aggravated assault.

On Tuesday, Zlobec’s attorney told Judge Rex Henry Ogle that Zlobec planned to stand on his plea of not guilty. His trial was set for Aug. 25.

Police say he was driving south on Highway 66 when he came upon cars that had come to a halt in the congested holiday traffic. Zlobec, however, apparently failed to stop or even slow down, police said, striking one car and causing a six-car chain reaction wreck that sent 18 people to area hospitals.

He then allegedly fled the scene as police and emergency responders came to the scene. Authorities caught him after he crossed the Little Pigeon River.

After that, he sent a letter to The Mountain Press from jail claiming his innocence. He said he wasn’t drunk at the time of the wreck, but had fallen asleep after taking a prescribed anti-anxiety pill the previous night. He claimed to have fled after being assaulted by law enforcement officers.

Police noted he used several fake names before they identified him; they also said they had no contact with him at all before arresting him after he crossed the river. Another driver involved in he wreck contradicted his story that he was beaten by officers. Brooke Rios told The Mountain Press that Zlobec ran before any law enforcement officers arrived. Her daughter, Karina, also suffered serious injuries in the wreck.

Additional investigation showed Zlobec had a number of convictions in South Carolina, including drug and traffic charges.

n jfarrell@themountainpress.com