CARYVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (July 14, 11:15 p.m.): The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the driver of a tractor-trailer died Thursday evening in a crash near Caryville on I-75 South.
He was identified as David Johnson, 45, from Tennessee. They said he and an SUV were driving on the highway when traffic started slowing down. They said the SUV was stopped for traffic and the tractor-trailer was unable to stop.
It turned off the road on the left side and hit the guardrail, according to THP's preliminary report. The tractor-trailer then got back on the road and clipped the SUV as it left the road on the other side, hitting more guardrails.
It then drove down an embankment, according to THP's report.
No other injuries were reported, and no charges were filed for the crash.
The crash shut down the road for several hours, partially reopening hours later early Friday morning.
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Cleanup work continued to cause problems on Interstate 75 South near Caryville on Friday 12 hours after a crash involving multiple commercial vehicles closed the interstate, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said.
TDOT said the multi-vehicle crash happened at around 8:50 p.m. Thursday near Cove Lake State Park at Old Tennessee 63 and Main Street. The crash caused traffic to back up to Howard Baker Highway.
A TDOT spokesperson said the crash involved a "HAZMAT situation" and three commercial vehicles. At least one of those vehicles was a tractor-trailer.
I-75 partially reopened Friday early morning. TDOT said the right lane and right shoulder remained blocked at mile marker 135 north of Caryville exit, saying the closure would remain in place "for hours."
Additional information about the crash, such as whether there were any injuries and the circumstances surrounding it, was not immediately available. This story will be updated when more information is available.