An accident involving two trucks caused an hours-long slowdown Saturday afternoon on I-40 westbound near the 324 mile marker in Cumberland County.

The driver of one of the trucks, Carmen Ventura, 67, of Little Elm, Texas, was transported by EMS to Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville with suspected serious injuries.

Motorists were backed up for hours on westbound I-40, past the 329 exit (Crab Orchard) while crews cleared the wreck, which included scooping and pushing to the side a spilled load of lumber.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a truck driven by Romar T. Bernard, 42, of Lewisville, Texas, pulled onto the roadway from the shoulder around the 324 mile marker, just east of exit 322 (Peavine Road) on I-40 westbound.

Ventura was cresting a hill in the right-hand lane and saw Bernard’s truck enter the highway 100-200 yards ahead. Ventura said he was unable to get into the left-hand lane because of traffic and was unable to stop before rear-ending Bernard’s truck.

Ventura’s truck became stuck in the rear of Bernard’s trailer and the two vehicle skidded some 65 feet before coming to rest against a guard rail and partially in the roadway.

Bernard and a passenger were uninjured. Bernard’s truck was driven from the scene but his trailer was towed. Ventura’s truck and trailer were both towed from the scene.