KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (7:57 a.m.) A driver was killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer that happened on I-40 near Strawberry Plains Pike Wednesday night, police said.
Around 7:30 p.m., the Knoxville Police Department responded to a crash with injuries in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-40 near Strawberry Plains Pike.
Based on a preliminary investigation, it is believed that the first vehicle was traveling west when it crossed the center median and hit a second vehicle, which was traveling in the eastbound lanes.
KPD said that the first vehicle was then hit by a tractor-trailer that was also traveling east and then both of them caught fire, police said.
According to police, the driver of vehicle one was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two people in the second vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and were transported to UT Medical Center for treatment, KPD said. The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured.
Crash reconstruction personnel responded to the scene. The investigation is still ongoing.
Both sides of the interstate were shut down for several hours for the investigation and cleanup of the crash.
UPDATE (4:20 a.m.) The Tennessee Department of Transportation said that all lanes are back open as of Thursday around 12:45 a.m.
UPDATE (9 p.m.): The Knoxville Police Department said all eastbound and westbound lanes will be closed indefinitely as emergency crews work at the crash.
They said eastbound traffic is being diverted to the Strawberry Plains exit. Westbound traffic is being diverted to exit 417.
They said it will be an extended closure and could last a long time. Drivers should seek alternate routes if possible.
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The Tennessee Department of Transportation said a severe crash in East Knox County closed most of a major highway Wednesday evening.
They said a multi-vehicle crash closed both I-40 West and East. A tractor-trailer was seen on fire at the crash.
TDOT said the fire and crash were reported at around 6:30 p.m. central time Wednesday.
Information about the cause of the crash, any possible injuries and any detours for traffic was not immediately available.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
