Two Killed In Wrong Way Accident
Two people were killed and another seriously injured in an automobile crash on Interstate 81 early Monday morning. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, an 80 year old man was driving the wrong way on the interstate. The man was traveling northbound in a Honda CR-V on the I-81 southbound lanes when he struck a Ford Explorer heading southbound near MM 30. The 80 year old man and a passenger in the Explorer were both killed in the accident. The driver of the Explorer was ejected from the car and suffered serious injuries.
The deceased have been identified as 80 year old Paul Martinez of Tennessee…who was driving the Honda the wrong way on the interstate.
The deceased passenger in the Ford Explorer was identified as 37 year old Sherri Thornton of Virginia.
The accident shut down the southbound lanes of I-81 for several hours Monday morning. The interstate was reopened around 8am.