Murfreesboro, TN - The 5:00 o’clock hour Sunday evening (6/16/2024) brought major issues to I-24’s westbound lanes (toward Nashville). Two separate incidents occurred within 1-mile of each other and near the New Salem Highway exit (78.8 and 80).

The first incident was a multi-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV. That occurred at 5:04PM near the New Salem Highway exit onto state route 99. Several units from Murfreesboro Fire-Rescue were on-the-scene and the westbound lanes of the interstate had to be shut-down.

LifeFlight helicopter landed on I-24 and took the motorcyclist to the Trauma Center at Vanderbilt. In addition, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services assisted with ground transportation.

While this was happening an afternoon storm was brewing as the sunshine went behind clouds, temperatures dropped from the mid 90s into the 80s. In addition, wind gusts increased dramatically.

Police were already on the scene when what was described as “police activity” broke-out a mile farter down at the 80 mile marker.

While allowing some vehicles to exit the interstate, beginning in the 6:00 o’clock hour, units from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Murfreesboro Police and Rutherford County Sheriffs Office used their police cars to funnel traffic into the HOV lane and allow the miles of backed-up I-24 traffic to begin flowing. Once past exit 80 (New Salem Highway), the Nashville (west) bound traffic was able to spread again over all four lanes.

As more information is released, NewsRadio WGNS will pass it on.