An early morning crash turned a stretch of I-40 East into a snarl of flashing lights and twisted metal. Officials reported that the interstate was closed at mile marker 221 near Old Hickory Boulevard by the Wilson County line following a multi-vehicle collision caused by a suspected wrong-way driver. FOX17 indicated that traffic was rerouted onto Old Hickory Boulevard after the 2:30 a.m. crash.

The incident, which saw the Eastern thoroughfare shuttered, involved four vehicles—one of which was overturned. Three individuals were reported injured, with at least one being serious enough to necessitate an urgent hospital transport, a situation relayed by Metro Communications. WKRN provided further context, stating that investigators were examining whether the errant driver was impaired.

Local authorities diverted traffic due to the closure, creating a bottleneck effect as morning commuters found themselves taking unexpected detours. WSMV noted heavy rainfall in the region, but it remains uncertain if the conditions were a contributing factor to the accident. Police did, however, find signs of impairment on the scene.

The roadway was partially reopened at about 4:30 a.m., according to officials. Metro's Emergency Communications Center disclosed receiving a 911 call about a wrong-way driver prior to the cataclysmic event, a detail that adds a chilling prelude to the morning's chaos.