UPDATED 1/12/2026: Major sections of I-840 in Rutherford County were shut down for several hours Sunday after the driver of an Audi lost control and struck a semi-truck head-on. The crash was reported around 11:00 a.m. near the Almaville Road exit. Investigation and cleanup were required on both the eastbound and westbound lanes, resulting in the full closure of the interstate, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Motorists were rerouted, with some entering or exiting I-840 at the Veterans Parkway interchange.
Although the wreck occurred shortly before noon, the eastbound lanes were not reopened until approximately 3:15 p.m. With the investigation continuing on the westbound side, I-840 West remained closed until about 5:00 p.m., as debris was scattered across the roadway and median.
Preliminary reports indicate that a two-door Audi R8 sports car was traveling east toward Williamson County when the driver lost control. The vehicle ran off the roadway, struck the center median, and crossed into the westbound lanes toward Murfreesboro, placing it directly in the path of an oncoming Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer. Within seconds, the collision killed 48-year-old Sonephet Khamsyvoravong and 42-year-old Kevin Kipping, both Tennessee residents, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, both the driver and passenger of the two-seat Audi were wearing seatbelts, but the severity of the crash was unsurvivable. The driver of the late-model tractor-trailer, a Florida resident, was also buckled in and was not injured. Authorities noted that the size and weight of the commercial truck far exceeded that of the small sports car.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation described the scene as having a “pretty significant oil, diesel, and debris field,” which delayed the reopening of the interstate. Hazardous materials teams were called in to clean spilled fuel and clear the roadway before traffic could safely resume. Eastbound lanes reopened around 3:30 p.m., while westbound lanes did not reopen until approximately 5:00 p.m.
No charges have been filed, and none are pending in connection with the crash, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Investigators have not yet confirmed what caused the Audi driver to lose control.
By Monday morning, traffic on I-840 was flowing normally, according to WGNS traffic reports, after the crash scene was fully cleared Sunday evening.
UPDATE 2:58 PM 1/11/2026: Sunday morning brought a tragic scene to the Almaville area of Rutherford County, where two people were killed in a violent collision on Interstate 840. The crash happened just before 11:00AM near mile marker 47, close to the Highway 102 interchange, according to a preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Investigators say an Audi R8 was traveling eastbound (toward Franklin) when the driver lost control. The sports car crossed the grass median and entered the westbound lanes (toward Murfreesboro), directly into the path of a Freightliner Cascadia tractor‑trailer. The impact was severe, and the Audi’s driver and passenger—48‑year‑old Sonephet Khamsyvoravong and 42‑year‑old Kevin Kipping, both from Tennessee—died at the scene.
The driver of the tractor‑trailer was not injured.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation noted that the crash left behind what they described as a “pretty significant oil, diesel and debris field,” which slowed the reopening of the interstate. Hazmat teams were brought in to clean the spilled fuel and clear the roadway before traffic could resume. The eastbound lane was reopened around 3:30PM. However, there was still much debris and hazardous waste spilled on the westbound lane, and it was not opened until 5:00PM.
THP’s preliminary report indicates that no charges were filed in connection with the crash.
Initial Report 2:06PM ALMAVILLE, TN (WGNS News) - A late‑morning crash brought westbound I‑840 to a crawl in the Almaville community on Sunday. The wreck happened at 10:57 a.m. near mile marker 47, in the stretch of interstate that narrows to two lanes. According to early information, multiple vehicles were involved, and the impact left the westbound left lane and shoulder blocked as responders worked the scene.
Drivers heading toward Williamson County felt the slowdown almost immediately, with traffic stacking up behind the closure. Crews remained on site to clear the vehicles and debris, and motorists were urged to use caution while passing through the area.
