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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — What should have been a normal drive turned into a nightmare Friday morning on I-24 East when a devastating crash forced the shutdown of the interstate just minutes before 11 a.m. At the scene, the incident appeared to have involved a late model 4-door Jeep Wrangler and a tractor trailer truck.

Within moments of the collision, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and local firefighters rushed to the scene. It quickly became clear how serious the wreck was — so serious that LifeFlight was urgently called in. The roar of helicopter blades soon filled the air as they touched down on the hot asphalt to carry one of the critically injured victims to a nearby hospital.

The crash unfolded just before the Sam Ridley Parkway exit, and in addition to the interstate being closed, the interchange itself had to be shut down. Rescue crews worked tirelessly under the punishing sun, pushing aside their own exhaustion as they focused on the lives of those involved in the crash. in the middle of a chaotic, tragic scene. Tennessee Department of Transportation workers blocked off traffic to create a safe space for medics and firefighters who were doing everything they could to help.

As sirens blared and emergency responders fought for precious minutes in the middle of a chaotic, tragic scene, some drivers trapped in the standstill traffic began to honk their horns — unaware, or perhaps not thinking about the reality of the wreckage scattered across the interstate just a few yards ahead of them and that someone’s son, daughter, mother, or father could be clinging to life.

About an hour after arriving on the scene, crews reopened a single lane on the four-lane stretch of interstate. One by one, cars inched past the wreckage, finally seeing firsthand the wreck that had brought traffic — and lives — to a standstill. For a few drivers, those moments may have sparked a painful reminder of how quickly things can change, and how fragile every family’s safety really is.

For now, the Tennessee Highway Patrol continues to investigate what caused this heartbreaking scene. WGNS will share new details as soon as they become available. 

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