NASHVILLE, TN (WGNS news) - I‑24 between the Davidson–Rutherford County line and I‑840 has become one of the region’s most troubling stretches of roadway, and the final hours of 2025 only underscored that reality. Less than two hours before the New Year arrived, the interstate’s now‑familiar cloud of danger settled in once again. At 10:03 p.m., a multi‑vehicle crash at mile marker 63 in Davidson County—just a stone’s throw from the Rutherford County line—brought all eastbound traffic to a standstill as motorists headed toward Chattanooga.

NewsRadio WGNS has been in contact with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and will share the trooper’s preliminary report as soon as it becomes available. Early information, however, is not encouraging. Eastbound lanes were shut down around Old Hickory Boulevard, creating a long backup during one of the most notoriously hazardous travel windows of the year.

Data has been remarkably consistent for decades: late‑night New Year’s Eve travel and the early hours of New Year’s Day rank among the most dangerous times to be on the road. Alcohol‑related crashes spike sharply during holiday celebrations, and federal statistics show that New Year’s Eve and the first hours of New Year’s Day are routinely among the deadliest periods for impaired‑driving fatalities. The National Safety Council estimates that up to 42 percent of traffic deaths during recent New Year’s holiday periods involved alcohol.

As we move into 2026, New Year’s Day remains the third most dangerous holiday for roadway travel, with an estimated 339 to 539 traffic‑related deaths nationwide during the holiday period. It’s a sobering reminder that celebrations can turn tragic in an instant.

WGNS encourages listeners to stay safe, stay alert, and stay informed. Don’t become part of a Good Neighbor Station traffic report. It’s far better to check WGNS on‑air or online to know what’s happening on the roads than to find yourself at the center of a breaking news story.