Three different vehicle accidents in the listening area on I-40 yesterday within a seven hour period miraculously resulted in no injuries.

The first took place at the 321 eastbound mile marker of I-40. Trooper Bobby Barker says a 2005 Nissan Sentra driven by 18-year-old David R. Waters of Gonzales, Louisiana was traveling east when he fell asleep and ran off the road. The vehicle rolled over once and came to rest on the right side of the interstate. Gonzales and a 14-year-old passenger escaped injury. Both were restrained at the time of the accident.

The second crash involved four vehicles on Interstate 40 in Putnam County near the 296 mile marker. Trooper Phillip Murphy says a 2020 Chevy Equinox driven by 29-year-old Kelvin Martinez of Pigeon Forge, a 2011 Dodge Durango operated by 58-year-old Terri Marie Morse of Crossville, a 2014 Nissan Rogue driven by 73-year-old Charles A. Lindstrom of Corryton and a 2011 Lexus operated by 47-year-old Jere Charles Gladden of Swannanoa, North Carolina were all traveling east when they were involved in a chain reaction accident. The report states all four were following too close for conditions. All drivers were restrained.

The third accident took place once again on I-40 at the 320 mile marker in Cumberland County. Trooper Chris Bennett says a 2017 Kia Forte driven by 27-year-old Joshua Steele Everhardt of Lenoir, North Carolina rear ended a 2017 Chevy Colorado operated by 64-year-old Melissa Gale Hines of Louisville, Tennessee. Everhardt was charged with failure to exercise due care and driving with an expired proof of insurance. As with the other two accidents, both drivers were restrained at the time of impact.