A tragic accident on Interstate 40 West in West Nashville claimed the life of a young woman Wednesday night. The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Taylor Burns. According to WSMV, the accident occurred around 9:50 p.m. near the White Bridge Pike exit.
Authorities reported that Burns' Chevrolet Prism was stationary in the second lane of travel for reasons not yet determined when it was struck from behind by an Acura TSX. The driver of the Acura, a 27-year-old woman, claimed she was unable to stop in time to prevent the collision. This occurred after another vehicle swerved to avoid Burns' car, she said in a statement obtained by the WKRN. The aftermath of the incident necessitated the closure of the interstate for approximately three hours as emergency crews worked on the scene, during which traffic was redirected to alternative routes, including the Briley Parkway and 46th Avenue exits.
TRAFFIC ALERT 🚨 Davidson Co: I-40 WB is closed following a crash involving multiple vehicles. Traffic being diverted at the 204 Briley exit.
— myTDOT (@myTDOT) August 1, 2024
Burns was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries. The information about Burns' death came from the Metro Nashville Police Department, with MNPD officials stating that there were no apparent signs of impairment at the crash site. The driver of the Acura was also transported to the same hospital, suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, as reported by WSMV.
As the investigation into the crash continued, real-time updates were provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. A tweet from the department's official account on X, which is the platform formerly known as Twitter, alerted drivers of the closure on I-40 westbound following the crash and advised on the diversion points. The TDOT post on X confirmed that the traffic was being rerouted at the 204 Briley exit.
