CAMPBELL COUNTY, Tenn. — Portions of Interstate 75 North and South in Campbell County had to be closed Thursday night after a crash involving multiple tractor-trailers as well as severe icy conditions, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The semi-truck crashes happened around 8:30 p.m. near Caryville. According to TDOT, the crash closed the northbound side at mile marker 133 and traffic was nearly backed up to the Andersonville Highway exit.
On Friday morning, TDOT Community Relations Officer Mark Nagi said the three wrecked tractor-trailers would be recovered Friday or Saturday.
On the southbound side, I-75 was closed at mile marker 153 near Elk Valley south of Jellico around 8:50 p.m. due to a disabled vehicle. As of 11 p.m., that crash had cleared and the interstate reopened.
TDOT reported severe icy conditions on the interstate.
Drivers across East Tennessee are warned to exercise extreme caution and not head out on the roads Thursday night and Friday morning due to a wintry mix and freezing rain that will create dangerous patches of ice on the roads.
Campbell County Sheriff Wayne Barton pleaded with people to stay off the roads Thursday night.
"It's just wreck, after wreck, after wreck," he said. "It's been a mess."
He said the lingering snow on the roads combined with the mix of sleet and freezing rain has complicated things.
"Travel is not recommended tonight in many spots in East Tennessee due to freezing rain and icy road conditions. We have already seen multiple crashes in Knox, Roane, Campbell and Loudon counties. Stay off the roads," TDOT said.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.