One person was killed and at least two others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash on I-40 in Putnam County early Tuesday morning. According to TDOT Smartway it was reported at 5:42 am at the westbound 277 mile marker near Baxter. THP said it involved a tour bus, two tractor-trailers and a Volkswagen Jetta.
The accident began when a tour bus struck a semi-truck in the rear. The tour bus was then rear-ended by a second semi-truck, which traveled off the shoulder. A passenger vehicle subsequently ran into the back of the tour bus.
The deceased has been identified as the driver of the second semi, 31-year-old Kerry Smith, of Tennessee.
Charges are pending against the tour bus driver, 54-year-old Huang Yisong, of New York, who was injured.
The driver of the Jetta was also hurt.
Both westbound lanes in the area of the crash site were shut down until after noon.