KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — An overturned vehicle blocked lanes of I-75 North in Loudon County Thursday evening, near the I-40 split.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation said the crash caused backups in both directions, and the overturned vehicle also blocked a southbound lane. The crash was reported at around 9:21 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol said no injuries were reported in that crash, but asked drivers to avoid the area while crews worked.
Another crash was reported on I-75 North at mile marker 81, near the Highway 321 exit, blocking a lane. Shortly past that crash, TDOT reported a disabled semi-truck that blocked a southbound lane, as well as another crash in the northbound lane in the same location.
Crews had to close down the northbound side of I-75 at mile marker 81 for at least an hour to move the disabled semi-truck out of the snowy center median. Traffic was diverted around on Highway 321 as crews worked after midnight.
TDOT also showed backups in the Sweetwater area Thursday night. The Sweetwater Police Department shared images on social media of icy roads in the city. The police department said first responders were responding to multiple wrecks, including one with injuries "in the immediate vicinity of Sweetwater."
TDOT said one of the crashes involved multiple vehicles and blocked a lane.
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.
"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.