Just before 8:00 p.m. last night, eastbound Interstate 40 on Rockwood Mountain near mile marker 341 was completely shut down to through traffic after two tractor-trailers overturned. Two other vehicles also went off the roadway while attempting to avoid the wreck ahead.

According to West Roane County Fire Chief Chad Goodman, who was on scene and spoke with us via text, both tractor-trailers ended up on their sides. One driver had to be extricated by rescue squad members and West Roane County personnel, while the other was able to exit his truck without assistance. Both drivers were transported to the hospital—one by LifeStar helicopter, which landed at the Harriman exit eastbound ramp, and the other by ambulance. No injuries were reported among the occupants of the approximately three other involved vehicles.

Rockwood saw heavy eastbound traffic backups much of the evening and into the night until the interstate was partially reopened. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The interstate remained fully closed for nearly two hours before traffic began moving past the scene using the emergency lane. However, it wasn’t long before the roadway had to be shut down again after a firefighter on scene was grazed by a passing tractor-trailer. That vehicle was eventually pulled over several miles down the interstate by a THP officer.

Cleanup crews from multiple wrecker companies worked much of the night to clear spilled large paper rolls and solar panels from the lanes, then remove the wreckage of the big rigs. The Roane County Emergency Operations Center, Midtown Fire, Sheriff’s deputies, Rescue Squad members, TDOT, West Roane County Fire, and Harriman Fire all assisted at the scene, including setting up for the LifeStar landing at the Harriman exit.