Injury crash closes I-40 in Smith Co. - WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Injury crash closes I-40 in Smith Co.

SMITH CO., Tenn. – Interstate 40 East in Smith County was shut down for several hours during the Monday afternoon commute following a crash with injuries.

The accident at mile marker 253, about 15 miles east of Lebanon, occurred in the eastbound lanes around 3 p.m.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation reported on its Web site that all eastbound lanes were blocked and traffic was being diverted off the interstate and around the crash.

Westbound traffic was also affected with rubbernecking delays and drivers were urged to avoid the area.

Preliminary reports indicated an 18 wheeler jackknifed and crashed.  The big rig's front end was torn off in the process.

At least was person was injured and taken by ambulance to a local hospital, a source on the scene told News 2.

Additional information was not known.

As of 7 p.m. Monday, one eastbound lane had reopened although traffic in the area remained slow.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.