Emergency personal responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries around 6:15 this morning, involving a Freightliner on interstate 81, near mile marker 27.
The accident was north bound on the interstate and traffic was at a stand still, with I-81 completely shut down. Heather Sipe from Emergency Management and Homeland Security told Radio Greeneville News that the truck ran off the left side of the interstate where it dropped some of it’s load that had 50 ft. long steel beams.
A report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol stated the truck hit several trees and the driver, later identified as Tommy Beckler, in attempt to get the vehicle back on the interstate steered the truck causing it to roll over onto the driver side crossing both north bound lanes. The vehicle lost 8,000 lbs. of 50 ft. long steel beams and went off the right side before hitting another tree.
Traffic was down to one lane as crews continued to work the scene. Both lanes were opened back up late this afternoon.
