An afternoon crash on one of Clarksville’s busiest corridors turned the 101st Airborne Division Parkway into a parking lot on Wednesday, after a two-vehicle collision left one driver ejected from their vehicle and shut down multiple lanes across the city.
The wreck happened around 3:24 p.m. at 101st Airborne Division Parkway and Peachers Mill Road. Police shut down both eastbound and westbound lanes of the parkway, along with northbound Peachers Mill, creating gridlock that rippled across Clarksville. One driver was thrown from their vehicle and flown by Life Flight to a Nashville hospital, where their condition has not been released. Fatal crash investigators were called to the scene, and police limited the details they made public.
The first word of the crash came via the Clarksville Police Department’s Facebook page, and Clarksville Now reported that two vehicles were involved and confirmed the ejected driver was airlifted to Nashville. That outlet also noted heavy backups along Needmore Road, Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and Riverside Drive as crews worked to clear the scene and investigators documented evidence.
Road closures and backups
Police shut down eastbound and westbound lanes of the 101st Airborne Division Parkway between Peachers Mill Road and Whitfield Road, and blocked northbound Peachers Mill, according to the Clarksville Police Department. “Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes until the roadway reopens,” the department said, as emergency crews and the Fatal Accident Crash Team worked the scene.
Troubled intersection
This stretch of 101st has a history of trouble. On March 10, another crash at the Peachers Mill intersection produced similar citywide backups, as reported by Clarksville Now. The city keeps live traffic cameras trained on the 101st and Peachers Mill intersection, a tool that first responders and local media routinely use to watch crashes and traffic patterns in real time, according to the Clarksville Police Department traffic camera page.
Investigation and records
Fatal crash investigators remained on scene into the afternoon, taking measurements and collecting evidence. Police asked anyone who may have video or information related to the wreck to contact the investigators assigned to the case. Drivers or vehicle owners who need a copy of the crash report can find step-by-step instructions on the Clarksville Police Department Records Division website.
Officials said there is no additional information available at this time, and the roadway will remain restricted while crews finish their work. For now, drivers are urged to steer clear of the 101st and Peachers Mill area and stick to alternate routes until the scene is fully cleared.
