A collision between a truck and a bicyclist that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Clarksville, has resulted in the cyclist being airlifted to a Nashville hospital. The incident took place around 3:53 p.m. on the Highway 76 Connector near New South Drive, as reported by WSMV. As a consequence of the accident, the northbound lanes of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway were closed between Fire Station Road and New South Drive, causing significant traffic disruptions.
The Clarksville Police Department was quick to respond, ushering the injured cyclist to be flown urgently to a hospital by medical helicopter. "Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant video footage is urged to contact FACT Investigator Burton at (931) 648-0656, ext. 5665," CPD shared with WSMV. In order to thoroughly investigate, the Clarksville police dispatched the Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT) to the scene, as WKRN noted. Despite the initial closure, the roadway has now been reopened to traffic.
The condition of the bicyclist, following the collision, was not immediately known. Nonetheless, the Clarksville Police Department ensured that the public was informed of the need to find alternative routes while the FACT carried out their investigation on site. Congestion was reported, with eastbound traffic on MLK Parkway backed up to Old Farmers Road, and westbound traffic jammed nearly to Interstate 24, according to Clarksville Now.
Later updates revealed a silver lining as Clarksville Police spokesman Scott Beaubien stated, "The bicyclist’s injuries do not appear to be life-threatening." He confirmed this to Clarksville Now, offering a hopeful note amid the serious nature of the accident.
