MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
Interstate 24 West in Rutherford County was blocked for several hours Wednesday after a tractor trailer carrying 38,000 pounds of refrigerated food and a Megabus collided.
The crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. between mile markers 86 and 87.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson told Nashville's News 2 16 passengers were on board the bus at the time of the accident. Seven received minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital.
The driver of the tractor trailer, John Staggs, was also injured.
Staggs reported he was sneezing at the time of the incident and did not realize traffic had stopped in front of him.
At least four ambulances and a medical helicopter responded to the scene, according to initial reports.
Westbound traffic was diverted to alternate routes. Eastbound lanes were also affected due to rubbernecking.
The interstate reopened around 11 p.m.
Megabus sent a second bus to pick up the remaining passengers and take them to their destination.
Megabus is a new bus service that offers inexpensive travel between major cities in the southeast including Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta.
