HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE (1:30 p.m.): Several people were injured after two crashes involving semi-trucks on Interstate 81 South in Hamblen and Greene counties Monday morning.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the first crash happened at exit 15 to Fish Hatchery Road around 7 a.m. in Hamblen County. As of 9:50 a.m., TDOT said the interstate had reopened.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a semi-truck carrying a tanker was traveling north on I-81 when it crossed over the median and crashed through a guardrail onto the other side of I-81. The semi-truck hit a pickup truck traveling south head-on, injuring the 55-year-old driver.
Two other vehicles traveling south hit the broken guardrail that was lying across the southbound side. One of the vehicles then rear-ended the other before they came to a stop. Neither of the drivers were hurt.
A second crash involving six vehicles happened on the southbound side at mile marker 17 in Greene County as crews were trying to clear the crash in Hamblen County. According to THP, a semi-truck traveling south on I-81 crashed into the rear of a vehicle that had slowed down because of the traffic backup. The semi-truck continued moving forward and hit two other vehicles, and those two vehicles crashed into two vehicles next to them.
Two people were injured in the second crash, THP said.
