Early this morning, a man was left in critical condition following a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 40. As reported by Action News 5, Shelby County deputies were attending to a single-vehicle accident around 1:30 am in the eastbound lanes near Airline Road, when an 18-wheeler, moving through the westbound lanes, collided with both an ambulance and a fire truck already on scene.
The driver of the 18-wheeler was transported in critical condition to Regional One Health, as confirmed by Action News 5. Working the initial incident, the deputies had their response compounded by the second accident, illustrating the layers of risk first responders face at motorway speeds.
Adding to the coverage, WREG noted that the Tennessee Highway Patrol has taken the lead in investigating the cause of the accident while the westbound section of I-40 remains temporarily closed. In the emergency response to the chaotic scene, a man involved in the original crash was also transported to St. Francis-Bartlett, in non-critical condition.
Commuters have been advised to seek alternative routes, with the Sheriff's Office recommending highways 64 or 70 as detours, a directive highlighted by FOX13 Memphis. Due to the investigation, it's not clear when the lanes will reopen, leaving drivers to navigate an unanticipated change in their morning commute.
Updates on the condition of the injured and the cause of the accident are awaited as authorities work through the aftermath of this morning's events.
