A Limestone County teen authorities say used his vehicle to run another car off the road, causing serious injury to his former girlfriend, has been charged with first-degree assault.

Anthony Wayne Defoe, 19, of 22391 New Garden Road, Elkmont, was arrested Monday by Athens Police. He posted bail bond and was released from the Limestone County Jail.

Capt. Marty Bruce said Defoe was arrested as a result of the wreck that occurred Feb. 27 on Lindsay Lane near Alabama 251.

Investigators said Defoe approached a vehicle driven by Jeremy Williams, 20, of 20290 Looney Road, Athens, at the Starbucks drive-through window and became irate with Williams and Stephanie Ezell, Defoe’s former girlfriend.

Ezell, 17, of 18191 Cross Key Road, Athens, and Williams were hospitalized for their injuries.

“Our investigation shows that Defoe told Williams and Ezell he wasn’t going to do anything there, but when they got into the county he would get them,” Bruce said.

Defoe said Tuesday when he learned police had obtained the arrest warrant against him he was surprised.

“I was going down the road and they (Williams and Ezell) passed me at a high rate of speed and then hit the tree,” he said. “I did not run them off the road.”

But Bruce said police believe Williams was traveling north on Lindsay Lane when a vehicle driven by Defoe passed him and began tapping his brakes. Williams, in an attempt to avoid a confrontation, tried to pass the vehicle in front of him, he said.

“As Williams was trying to pass, the other vehicle crossed the center line striking Williams’ vehicle and forcing him off the roadway and striking a tree,” Bruce said. “Ezell was transported to Huntsville Hospital by Medflight with serious injuries including a broken hip, eight broken ribs, a bruised lung and a torn spleen. Williams was taken to Athens-Limestone Hospital with a leg injury.”

Detective Dustin Lansford has been investigating the incident since the wreck. Lansford said Williams and Ezell have since been released from area hospitals.