On April 9, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Roane State Highway in Kingston, a four-vehicle chain-reaction crash occurred under clear daylight conditions on a dry, straight section of the four-lane divided highway with a 35 mph speed limit.

Vehicle #1, a black 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Eric T. Parish (age 43), was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed, exceeding the posted limit. When the driver needed to brake to avoid hitting the vehicle ahead, he struck the rear of a Kia Forte.

Vehicle #2, a maroon 2017 Kia Forte sedan driven by Barbara Anne Salley (age 67) with passenger Barbara Anne Salley also in the vehicle, was stopped in the eastbound left lane with its left turn signal activated, waiting to turn left into a parking area. The rear-end impact from the Silverado pushed the Forte approximately 79 feet forward and across the highway into the westbound lanes.

This caused the Forte to be struck on its left front and side by Vehicle #3, a white 2023 Buick compact utility vehicle driven by Florence Pinyon (age 70), which was traveling westbound in the left lane. The collision forced the Buick into the right westbound lane, where its right rear was then struck by the front left of a Nissan Rogue.

Vehicle #4, a white 2022 Nissan Rogue driven by Natascha M. Bivens (age 51), was traveling westbound in the right lane. The impact caused the Rogue to lose control, leave the roadway, and crash into multiple trees in the woods.

There were no fatalities, but four people sustained injuries: the driver and passenger of the Forte were transported by ambulance (one by air) to UT Medical Center with incapacitating injuries for the passenger; the drivers of the Buick and the Rogue suffered possible injuries and were taken to Roane Medical Center.

All drivers appeared normal, were wearing seatbelts, and tested negative for alcohol or drugs. No hazardous materials were involved, and all vehicles except one were towed due to disabling damage.