An overturned semi shut down all northbound lanes of I-65 near Goodlettsville before dawn, snarling traffic just as a heavy rainstorm soaked Middle Tennessee. The crash happened near the Long Hollow Pike exit ramp, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation reported that the tractor-trailer flipped on I-65 North, forcing a full closure of the northbound lanes.
According to WSMV, northbound traffic was diverted off at Vietnam Veterans Boulevard toward Hendersonville while crews worked the scene. The outlet also reported that people were injured in the crash, though further details on their conditions were not available. WKRN pinpointed the crash location in the northbound lanes near mile marker 97 around 3:15 a.m., and said TDOT attributed the closure to the overturned semi truck.
Diversions and a Slow Reopening
WKRN reported that traffic was diverted off the interstate at Exit 95, Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, and that motorists were asked to avoid the area altogether while the closure was in effect. The station said no additional information had been released at the time of its report. A later headline from Yahoo News indicated that a portion of I-65 had reopened near Long Hollow Pike, though it's not clear exactly when that happened or which lanes were made available again.
WSMV reported that one northbound lane on I-65 North had reopened, while a traffic backup continued to build behind the scene. Heavy rainfall was also reported to have caused minor flooding on portions of the interstate near the crash site. Whether wet roads played any role in the semi overturning has not been established.
Heavy Rain Complicating the Morning Commute
The crash unfolded as a soaking storm moved through the region overnight. WSMV's weather team forecast 1 to 2 inches of rain across most of the Midstate from Tuesday night through Wednesday, with some isolated spots picking up as much as 3 inches. Forecasters warned that ponding on roads and highways was expected as the rain moved through.
WKRN's weather coverage noted that areas near I-65 had already seen isolated rainfall totals of more than an inch, with some locations reaching 2 to 3 inches, and called heavy rain the main weather concern across the region Wednesday. The steadiest rain was expected to taper off by mid-morning, though scattered showers and storms were forecast to linger into the early afternoon, according to WSMV.
