Some lanes of Interstate 40 will be temporarily closed Friday after two crashes backed up traffic for miles Thursday.
Both accidents involved tractor trailers on I-40 in Roane County.
One happened on the westbound side, the other on the eastbound side.
TDOT says there will be temporary lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday as crews work to finish clearing the roadway.
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Traffic is moving slowly on I-40 over Rockwood mountain in Roane County, after several wrecks shut down part of the interstate Thursday afternoon.
The wreck in the westbound lanes happened between 12:30 and 1:00 pm around milemarker 334. At least two semi-trucks were involved in the accident, and several hours after the crash, they remained where they landed, leaning over an embankment on the left side of the roadway.
Traffic was being diverted off at exit 347 (Rockwood/Harriman exit) for a while. As of 4:00 pm, one westbound lane is open.
Another wreck in the eastbound lanes involved at least three tractor-trailers. It occurred about the same time as the other wreck, near milemarker 342. One of the vehicles involved was a Fed-ex delivery truck. Packages were strewn across the pavement in the rain. Another truck was there loading up the packages around 4:00 pm.
One lane is open in the eastbound lanes.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the wrecks. We've received no official word on how many vehicles were involved or if anyone was injured. An officer on the scene said at least one person was transported to UT Medical Center for treatment. It's also not clear yet which of the accidents occurred first, and what may have caused the wrecks.
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At least two wrecks on I-40 on Rockwood mountain is affecting traffic going in both directions.
The crashes, both involving multiple vehicles, happened around 12:30 pm, in the westbound lanes at milemarker 343 and in the eastbound lanes between milemarkers 341 and 342.
Currently, the westbound lanes are shut down. Traffic is being diverted off at exit 347 (Rockwood/Harriman exit.) One lane is open on the eastbound side.
There's no word on any injuries in either accident. Photos from the scene show several tractor trailers were involved in the accident.