Two individuals were charged following a significant crash that caused major delays on Interstate 40, Sevierville, which required the busy thoroughfare to be closed for over six hours on Wednesday night. According to the Sevierville Police Department, as reported by WVLT, the accident occurred around 8 p.m. near mile marker 409 on I-40 East when a Toyota Camry collided with a semi-truck, leading to subsequent collisions that involved a total of three tractor-trailers.
The aftermath of the collision had a semi veering into the median and falling onto its side, thereby trapping the 58-year-old driver, who had to be extricated by emergency responders. Taken to the hospital by a LifeStar air ambulance, the medical condition of the driver remains unclear, while the name of the hospital was not released, detailed WATE.
No other injuries were reported from the scene of the crash, which involved the Camry becoming partially wedged beneath a third tractor-trailer. The police are currently investigating the chain of events that led to this multi-vehicle incident. The driver of the Camry, identified as 20-year-old Jonathan Negrete-Toledo of Dandridge, is facing charges including underage driving while impaired and violating Tennessee’s implied consent law. In the passenger seat, Victor Rodriguez Campos, also 20, of White Pine, was charged with underage alcohol consumption. Both charges were relayed by a series of local news reports, including 991 The Sports Animal.
To manage the resulting chaos of the pileup, a collective response was mounted. Teams from the Sevierville Fire Department, Northview Fire Department, Sevier County Ambulance Service, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Sevier County Emergency Management Agency, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office all deployed to the scene. Throughout the night, they worked diligently, not only to clear the debris but also to keep the public safe while the I-40 East was completely or partially blocked for an extended period, hindering all through traffic.
