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Third death confirmed in fatal I-40 crash

The Knox County Sheriff's Office said charges are pending in a fatal Interstate 40 crash.

UPDATE Friday April 7

A Sevierville man, who investigators said lost control of his vehicle and set off a multi-vehicle crash that killed two others, has died, the Knox County Sheriff's Office confirms. 

Chris Tuerff is the third death connected to the March 14 crash on Interstate 40 near Midway Road. 

According to a report from KCSO, Tuerff was heading East on I-40 when he lost control of his Toyota Camry and went into the median.

Investigators determined his vehicle then went airborne into the westbound lanes and landed on a Honda Accord that Bryan Hannah, 22, of Strawberry Plains, was driving. 

Hannah died two days after the crash. 

Tuerff's camry then stopped in the center lane and was hit by a Dodge Ram 1500 and a Mazda B2300.

A passenger in Tuerff's car, Angela Jorgenson, 54, died at the scene. 

Investigators previously said they believed drugs and alcohol were factors in the crash. 

Because of Tuerff's death, no charges will be filed. 

UPDATE Thursday March 16 4:15 p.m. 

A second person has died following a fatal crash on Interstate 40 earlier this week. 

Bryan Hannah, 22, of Strawberry Plains died Thursday at U.T. Medical Center.

A 54-year-old woman had died at the scene on Tuesday evening, but her name hasn't been released because authorities haven't been able to locate any relatives. 

That woman was a passenger in a Toyota Camry driven by 69-year-old Chris Tueriff. The Sevierville man was heading East on I-40 when he lost control and went into the median. 

The Knox County Sheriff's Office said his vehicle went airborne into the westbound lanes and landed on the Honda Accord that Hannah was driving. 

The Camry came to a stop in the center lane before getting hit by a Dodge Ram 1500 and a Mazda B2300.

Investigators believe drugs and alcohol were factors in the crash and charges are pending against Tueriff. 

UPDATE, WEDNESDAY 8:45 a.m.: The Knox County Sheriff's Office said charges are pending in a fatal Interstate 40 crash.

One person was killed and two others injured in the crash on I-40 West near Midway Road around 5:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. A Lifestar helicopter took the two injured to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Drugs and alcohol are factors in the wreck, according to KCSO. Authorities have not released names of those charged, or the victims of the crash.

KCSO said the driver of a Toyota Camry was traveling on I-40 east, lost control and went into the median. The car went airborne into the westbound lanes and landed on a Honda Accord, according to KCSO. The Camry came to stop in the center lane before getting hit by a Dodge Ram 1500 and a Mazda B2300.

Authorities pronounced the passenger of the Camry dead at the scene.

UPDATE, TUESDAY 9:45 p.m.: The Knox County Sheriff's Office says at least one person died and several were injured Tuesday evening in a multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate 40 in East Knox County.

The Sheriff's Office's reconstruction team went to the scene at westbound I-40 near Midway Road and the Sevier County line.

I-40 West along that stretch reopened around 9:45 p.m. after crews finished clearing debris. 

Two people were airlifted from the site to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

PREVIOUS STORY: Westbound Interstate 40 traffic is shut down near Midway Road and likely will stay that way for a couple hours as authorities work a "serious" crash in East Knox County.

At least two vehicles were involved in the crash that occurred about 5:40 p.m. Lifestar helicopter was dispatched to the scene as crews worked to free patients from the wreckage.

Westbound traffic was being diverted to exit 407 in Sevierville, according to area TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi, who termed the crash "serious."

The Tennessee Department of Transportation estimated the westbound lanes would be closed until at least 8:30 p.m.

10News will have more details as they become available.

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