KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two people were hospitalized after a wrong-way crash involving three cars on eastbound Interstate 40 in Knoxville Thursday evening.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the crash was reported near the Cherry Street exit around 6 p.m.
The Knoxville Police Department said a car was driving the wrong way on I-40 East and hit two other cars head-on. First responders took two people to the hospital, including a 73-year-old man from Seymour with serious injuries. Police said he is expected to recover.
On Friday, police said the wrong-way driver was the 73-year-old, saying they believe the man was likely confused and took the exit ramp at Cherry Street instead of the entrance ramp. KPD said it does not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Traffic was diverted around the crash onto exit 390 as vehicles continued to back up past the Interstate 275 interchange near Fort Sanders.
Westbound traffic was not affected. The interstate was closed for more than an hour before reopening around 9 p.m.