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I-40 Bus Crash: Multiple Fatalities Reported In Tennessee

By Dan Evon
Published on: 08:50 PST, Oct 2, 2013

A bus crash on I-40 left at least eight people dead this afternoon in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

According to CA, the I-40 crash occurred at about 2 pm near mile marker 423. Both lanes of the highway were shutdown as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Tennessee Department of Safety spokeswoman Dalya Qualls said that the bus was traveling eastbound when it crashed over the median and into oncoming traffic. The bus hit a tractor trailer and an SUV.

Qualls said:

“(The bus) traveled across the median and struck a tractor-trailer and passenger car that were traveling westbound. The tractor-trailer caught fire and the bus overturned. There are multiple fatalities and injuries at this time.”

The crash on I-40 is still being cleared. The Department of Transportation said that it could be hours before the highway reopens.

WATE.com reports that six people on the bus were killed. Another person was killed on the tractor-trailer and one more who was traveling in the SUV. Several others were injured in the cras.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said that four victims were transported via helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Several others were taken via ambulance to other area hospitals.

The cause of the crash is not known at this time. WBIR reports that the crash involved a church bus that was carrying “senior adults.”

Officials said that a press conference is scheduled for later this afternoon to provide an update on the I-40 bus crash.

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