Multiple Injuries In I-81 Crash

A huge mess on Interstate 40 and Interstate 81 on Tuesday afternoon. This after a crash on I-81 north just past the I-40 split. Accoprding to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, just after 3:15pm 33 year old Sereena Carpenter of Tennessee was driving a Honda Odyssey southbound on I-81 near mile marker one. Carpenter then used a crossover and turned into the left lane of northbound I-81. She then struck a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup head on. The Dodge Ram had the driver and four passengers, including two juveniles. All were injured and had to be transported to the UT Medical Center in Knoxville. Two juveniles that were in Carpenter’s vehicle were injured along with Carpenter herself. They were also transported to the UT Medical Center.

Carpenter has been charged with failure to exercise due care and violating a traffic control device. The interstate finally reopened around 4:30pm Tuesday. Of course, that led to a major backup on I-40 eastbound approaching the I-81 split. Traffic at one time was backed up for about 4 miles to around Exit 417.