Knoxville, September 26, 2025
News Summary
Knoxville, Tennessee faced severe traffic disruptions due to multiple wrecks on Thursday, triggered by rainy weather. Significant incidents occurred on I-40 West and I-640 East, leading to lane closures and emergency response. The Tennessee Department of Transportation reported varying levels of traffic obstruction, resulting in backups on these interstates. Motorists were urged to exercise caution while navigating the wet roads as emergency services responded to the incidents.
Knoxville, Tennessee experienced significant traffic disruptions on Thursday after multiple wrecks occurred on the interstates due to rain. The incidents led to major delays for motorists traversing the affected areas.
A notable incident took place on I-40 West, where a multi-vehicle wreck resulted in the closure of two out of four lanes near Papermill Drive. Emergency crews responded promptly, deploying at least one ambulance and two firetrucks to the scene. By around 4:30 p.m., traffic was backed up for miles as a result of this incident.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) reported another collision on I-640 East, located near Western Avenue. This incident restricted traffic to just one open lane, with at least one firetruck and several ambulances attending to the wreck. Vehicles were observed in the emergency lane, halted behind the crash site on I-640 East.
Earlier in the day, all lanes of I-75 north of Knoxville were reopened following the resolution of a previous motorcycle crash. The incident that caused the closure occurred in both directions in Anderson County near Rocky Top at mile marker 127. Emergency services had been dispatched to manage the situation.
Traffic woes were not isolated to Thursday. On the previous Tuesday, a string of crashes caused delays exceeding a mile on both sides of I-640, specifically near the North Broadway exit. The series of accidents on I-640 were reported around 3:25 p.m. at mile marker 5. In one of the more severe situations, a semi-truck was observed jackknifed across the eastbound lanes, while a car had crashed on the westbound side, resulting in significant congestion that extended past the I-275 interchange on the eastbound side and reaching up to Washington Pike on the westbound side.
The Tuesday accidents led to injuries, with one person suffering non-life-threatening injuries and another facing potentially life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, a child in the backseat of the vehicle involved in that crash was uninjured. Further updates indicated that the Tuesday incident involved a single car, with the driver sustaining serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the passenger faced possible life-threatening injuries.
Details on Traffic Incidents
- I-40 West: Multi-vehicle wreck near Papermill Drive – two lanes closed.
- I-640 East: Wreck near Western Avenue – one lane open.
- I-75: Reopened after motorcycle crash in Anderson County.
- Previous Tuesday’s incidents on I-640: Semi-truck jackknifed and car crash; two injured.
Context of Traffic Conditions
Rainy weather has been a contributing factor in these incidents, highlighting the need for caution among drivers during adverse conditions. The cumulative impact of these multiple accidents underscores the frequent traffic troubles faced in the Knoxville area, especially during rainy days.
FAQ
- What caused the multiple wrecks in Knoxville on Thursday?
- Multiple wrecks occurred on the interstates in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Thursday due to rain.
- What happened on I-40 West?
- A multi-vehicle wreck on I-40 West left two of the four lanes closed near Papermill Drive.
- How did emergency services respond to the incidents?
- Emergency crews responded to the scene with at least one ambulance and two firetrucks present.
- What was the traffic situation during the incidents?
- Traffic was backed up for miles around 4:30 p.m. due to the incident on I-40 West.
- What other major wreck occurred on Thursday?
- TDOT reported another wreck on I-640 East near Western Avenue, limiting traffic to one open lane.
- What happened in the previous week’s incidents on I-640?
- On a previous Tuesday, traffic was backed up for more than a mile on both sides of Interstate 640 after multiple crashes near the North Broadway exit.
Summary of Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Day of Incident | Thursday |
| Cause of Multiple Wrecks | Rain |
| Key Interstate Affected | I-40 West, I-640 East, I-75 |
| Emergency Response | At least one ambulance and two firetrucks on I-40 West, multiple ambulances on I-640 East. |
| Traffic Disruptions | Significant backups for miles reported on multiple interstates. |
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Additional Resources
- WBIR: Wrecks Reported on I-40 West, I-640 East
- Wikipedia: Knoxville
- WATE: I-40 East Diverted After Major Crash
- Google Search: Traffic Accidents Knoxville
- Knoxnews: I-75 Closed in Both Directions
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic
- WBIR: I-640 Broadway Crashes
- Google News: Traffic Accidents Knoxville
- WATE: Woman Dead After Car Crash
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
