A tragic scene unfolded late Thursday morning in Henderson, Tennessee, when at least one person was killed in a fiery two-vehicle collision involving an 18-wheel truck that burst into flames on U.S. Highway 45 at the State Highway 100 overpass, according to Action News 5. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was the first to report the incident and warned of traffic disruptions.
The intense blaze led to a temporary shutdown of the highway, causing significant traffic disruptions as emergency crews worked the scene, and parts of the highway were limited to single-lane traffic in both directions till the late afternoon, however, details on the number of fatalities have yet to be disclosed, with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the primary agency overseeing the investigation of the crash, which involved what appears to be a tractor-trailer and a passenger car engulfed in flames, according to a photograph shared by the THP as stated by WREG News.
Henderson Police Chief Gary Davidson released a statement, as reported by WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News, addressing the incident and confirming that lanes are open for travel but restricted to one lane each direction after the wreck, which involved an 18-wheel truck and a small four-door car, adding "An inspection was done to the bridge by TDOT and has been cleared for safe travel." Chief Davidson extended condolences to the families involved and acknowledged the effort of first responders, emphasizing that further details will be provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
While the name of the deceased has not been immediately released, the crash drew a response from multiple agencies including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Henderson Police Department, Chester County Sheriff's Office, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation among other local partners; Sergeant Charles Childers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol advised the public, while still amidst the smoldering scene, that the emergency services would need time to clear the wreckage, and he stressed the collective efforts to manage the crisis with these words "We're also with our community partners, the Henderson Fire Department, we have TDOT here, and other people from Chester County and the City of Henderson," as told to WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News.
