There was a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 24 that blocked traffic westbound for several hours and slowed traffic through Manchester for those hours as well.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), a 1996 Ford Explorer driven by Wendell Rogers JR of Smyrna exited the interstate at mile-marker 116. The area where he exited is for semi trucks to weigh-in and it is thought that the 39 year old exited believing it was a rest area.
A Trooper saw and approached the vehicle were it had stopped to check on the driver. At this time the Trooper observed the driver to allegedly be under the influence with the driver refusing to exit the SUV and left the scale complex at a high rate of speed.
A second Trooper was nearby and located the vehicle and pursued the vehicle for a short distance where it crashed at mile-marker 109. The vehicle overturned ejecting the driver and partially ejecting passenger, Jamie Hiles age 35 of Woodbury. Both individuals were flown by helicopter to area medical centers because of their injuries.
Rogers went Vanderbilt Medical Center and Hiles was transported to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. The THP report says that the individuals were not wearing seatbelts. Charges are pending.
Two other non-life threatening accidents occurred during the clean-up of the first crash. One near Exit 114 and the other near Exit 110.
Source:
Partner Station WMSR
