2 dead, 3 injured in multi-vehicle accident involving an ambulance on Tennessee highway

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) – Police say two people were killed and three others injured in a fatal accident involving an ambulance in Tennessee.

I-40 East in Knoxville is reopened after the interstates were closed Saturday morning by a fatal multi-vehicle crash.

According to Knoxville police, officers responded to I-40 East west of Midway Road shortly after 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

Based on the investigation conducted at the scene, police believe that two eastbound vehicles were involved in a rear-end collision. One vehicle ended up in the lane of travel, while the other overturned, crossing all three lanes and ending up on the median next to the road.

A third vehicle was involved in the accident after a passerby stopped to help the vehicle that was still on the highway.

The vehicle of the person who stopped to help was subsequently struck by an ambulance en route to Cocke County, which was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision, police said.

Both the helper and the driver of the vehicle stopped on the highway were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The driver of the vehicle that overturned in the median was ejected from the car in the crash and taken to UT Medical Center with serious injuries. Police said the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol while driving and may face charges.

According to police, there were no patients in the ambulance at the time of the accident and the two crew members in the vehicle suffered only minor injuries.

Priority Ambulance sent WVLT the following statement Saturday evening:

“Priority Ambulance extends our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones in this morning's multi-vehicle accident. Our thoughts are with all individuals and families affected by this tragic event. We can confirm that one of our ambulances was involved and our crew members sustained minor injuries. We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they investigate the circumstances of the accident.”

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