ROBERTSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A multi-vehicle crash that left one person dead on the Robertson County and Sumner County line had traffic backed up several miles on Interstate 65 North Tuesday afternoon, according to officials.
Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) investigators said the crash involved four tractor-trailers and one pickup truck. It happened around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18 at mile marker 115.8 of I-65 North, which is between Exits 112 (Cross Plains) and 117 (Portland).
Robertson County EMS said at least one person was killed and multiple entrapments were involved in the crash.
According to the TDOT SmartWay map, all northbound lanes were blocked. The cameras on the map showed traffic backed up almost all the way to the White House Exit 108 as of 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, but the crash has since been cleared.
THP said a 2007 FRHT tractor-trailer, a 2023 FRHT tractor-trailer, and a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado, in that order, were stopped in the right lane on I-65 North. Then, a 2016 Kentworth tractor-trailer started to slow down in the travel lane and was rear-ended by a 2005 PTRB tractor-trailer.
As a result, the Kentworth rear-ended and went over the Chevrolet before rear-ending the 2023 FRHT, which was pushed forward and rear-ended the 2007 FRHT, officials reported. All five vehicles came to a stop in the right lane.
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According to authorities, the driver of the Chevrolet — identified as 28-year-old Bryant A. Freedle of Tennessee — was killed in the crash.
Meanwhile, the 55-year-old Tennessean driving the PTRB tractor-trailer was reportedly injured in the incident, but there is no word on the nature of those injuries.
However, the 71-year-old Texan driving the Kentworth, the 27-year-old Californian driving the 2023 FRHT, and the 48-year-old Georgian driving the 2007 FRHT were not hurt, THP said.
Officials said Freedle and the two FRHT drivers were both wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, but they have yet to determine if the PTRB driver or the Kentworth driver were wearing their seatbelts.
As of Wednesday, April 19, authorities said charges against the PTRB driver and the Kentworth driver are pending the outcome of the investigation.
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This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.
