WGNS has even more news on the fatal accident that occurred on Thursday morning in Murfreesboro. We are told that the Tennessee Highway Patrol, local law enforcement officials and emergency first responders were on the scene of the deadly I-24 crash within minutes. The crash occurred shortly after midnight Thursday morning (6/13/2013) on Interstate 24 eastbound near the South Church Street exit.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation told WGNS that a tractor trailer truck slammed into cars that were stuck in traffic on the interstate due to a previous collision. H & O Transport out of Campbellsville, KY, was unable to stop in time, overturned and struck multiple vehicles, including another tractor trailer with Werner Enterprises out of Omaha, Nebraska.
Two vehicles caught fire, one of those vehicles fully engulfed leaving two dead. The names of those who died in the wreck have been released. WGNS was told that 28-year-old Brandon Wilson from Lawrensburg, Indiana and 25-year-old Deja Morris from West Harrison, Indiana were both killed in the accident.
Some of those involved in the midnight accident were on the way to attend Bonnaroo.
Additional Information:
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is the lead agency in the crash investigation. The Tennessee Department of Transportation, along with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Murfreesboro Police Department, Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency, Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue assisted during the incident.
- At approximately 12:19 a.m. on Thursday, a crash involving eight vehicles, including two tractor trailers and six passenger vehicles, occurred on I24 EB mm 81 in Rutherford County.
- Traffic was congested and had come to a stop due to previous crash on Interstate 24 EB at mm 89 on Wednesday night at approximately 7:24 p.m. All eastbound lanes were closed due to crash investigation and post-crash clean up, and lanes were reopened at approximately 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday night.
- Preliminary information on Thursday morning's crash indicates that traffic congestion from previous crash (Wednesday) had caused traffic to come to a stop; a tractor trailer with trucking company
- H & O Transport out of Campbellsville, KY, was unable to stop in time, overturned and struck multiple vehicles, including another tractor trailer with Werner Enterprises, Omaha, Nebraska.
- Two vehicles caught fire; one of those vehicles became fully engulfed in flames killing two occupants from out of state. Two individuals were rescued from the other vehicle on fire.
- At this time, there are two confirmed fatalities (named above), three subjects were transported by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Medical Center and two subjects were transported by EMS-ground to Vanderbilt Medical Center. Seven other individuals were involved in the crash, sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Neither tractor trailer driver was injured.
- Interstate 24 eastbound lanes were shut down between 80 mm and 81 mm. Two eastbound lanes reopened at approximately 6:16 a.m.
