The sound of vehicles crashing into tractor trailer rigs is echoing at the Smyrna Airport for the remainder of this week. It's the Highway Patrol's "Tennessee Traffic Crash Investigation and Safety Symposium".

The classes focus on incidents that occur on interstates. Officers are actually witnessing cars slam into the side and rear of the 18-wheelers. They are studying ways to conduct more meaningful investigations at crash scenes as well as try and develop ways to reduce this type of deadly accident.

In addition to improving the officer's effectiveness in gathering evidence, it also is designed to help them re-open interstate traffic more quickly. Information gathered across the nation shows that for every minute a lane is closed, it increases traffic delays four to five times. The chance of additional crashes also occurs.

The end goal is to have trained teams of certified emergency responders who are able to gather evidence, better manage the area around the interstate crash scene, and more quickly re-open lanes of traffic that were closed by the crash.

Again, classes continue through Friday at the Smyrna Airport.

For more information, click to see their FaceBook page.