More than six hours after a multi-vehicle crash was reported on I-24 in Marion County at mile marker 164 at 1:55 p.m. EST on Saturday, emergency crews were still clearing the scene and completing an investigation, worsening backups from heavy traffic traveling in both directions.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. John Harmon said though the crash was serious, a trooper had reported all parties injured were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
At 8 p.m., he also said if all went as planned, both eastbound lanes on I-24 would be re-opened within the hour, although it would take a while for traffic to get back to normal speeds due to a large queue. At the time, only one lane had been been re-opened.
So much traffic spilled over onto U.S. Highway 41, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was recommending Chattanooga-bound drivers leave I-24 at exit 155, drive to Dunlap and use state Highway 111, a miles-long detour.
No information is available on the cause of the wreck.