KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — The victim of a fatal crash reported on I-40 West near the Strawberry Plains Pike Friday afternoon has been identified, police said.
The Knoxville Police Department said the victim was identified as Luann Backman, 68 of Knoxville.
An investigation revealed that the two involved SUVs, a Toyota Sequoia and Lexus RX5, were traveling westbound on I-40 West.
The Toyota Sequoia, which was being driven by Backman, was behind the Lexus when it attempted to pass on the left shoulder. The Toyota then swerved back to the right and clipped the front of the Lexus, police said.
KPD said that both SUVs struck the guardrail, but the Toyota went over it and rolled over.
According to a press release, the victim was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to UT Medical Center and pronounced dead shortly after her arrival.
The Lexus RX5 was occupied by three people and none reported any injuries, police said.
The crash remains under investigation by KPD Crash Reconstruction investigators.