UPDATE (8/19): The Knoxville Police Department shared an update on the fatal I-40 crash that occurred on Saturday, sharing the identities of those who were killed.
KPD said the victims from the crash have been identified as 76-year-old Lee Boone from Virginia, and Juan Carlos Herrera Gomez, 45, from Knoxville. KPD said Gomez was the passerby who stopped to help Boone after the initial wreck.
A woman who was involved in the initial crash and remains hospitalized was suspected of being under the influence. KPD said she has been charged with DUI.
"It is believed that she was rear-ended by Boone, which caused the initial crash that preceded the second collision involving the Priority Ambulance," KPD said.
The crash remains under investigation by KPD crash reconstruction personnel. KPD said the case file will be turned over to the Knox County District Attorney's Office for review once the investigation is complete.
---
UPDATE (1:18 p.m.): Two people were killed in a crash on Interstate 40 early Saturday morning involving an ambulance, the Knoxville Police Department said.
According to KPD, just after 5:30 a.m., officers responded to I-40 East west of Midway Road.
The wreck involved three vehicles, according to investigators. One of the vehicles was a Priority Ambulance.
Charges are pending against one of the drivers.
What Happened?
Police said they believe two vehicles were driving eastbound on I-40 Saturday around 4:30 a.m. when one of the vehicles rear-ended the other. The first vehicle came to a rest on a lane on I-40 East. The second overturned and rolled across all three lanes before stopping in the median.
A passerby stopped to help the people in the first vehicle, which was then it hit by a Priority Ambulance that could not brake in time.
Police said that the ambulance was heading to Cocke County from Knoxville.
The driver in the first vehicle and the person who came to help were pronounced dead.
The driver in the second vehicle was ejected from the car and was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with severe injuries. Police said the driver might have been under the influence and charges are pending.
The driver and passenger in the ambulance had minor injuries. There were no patients inside.
KPD's crash reconstruction crew was still investigating as of Saturday afternoon.
Original Story:
I-40 East was shut down for several hours after police responded to a "serious multi-vehicle crash" at mile marker 401.2 between Strawberry Plains Pike and Midway Road.
Police said the wreck happened a few minutes after 4:30 a.m. on Saturday just west of Midway Road. Drivers were encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible.
As of 11:00 a.m., I-40 East was back open and traffic was flowing normally again.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and three others were found with injuries.