ALMAVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash that blocked a portion of Interstate 840 in Rutherford County for several hours Sunday.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the crash was reported just before 11 a.m. near the Almaville Road exit. Since all westbound lanes and one eastbound lane were closed for the investigation, a diversion route was set up at Exit 50 (Veterans Parkway).
Officials initially estimated the road would reopen around 3:30 p.m. However, shortly after 3:15 p.m., TDOT reported the eastbound side was open, but crews were still clearing debris from the other side, so the westbound lanes stayed closed until just before 5 p.m.
In the preliminary crash report, Tennessee Highway Patrol said a 2020 Audi R8 was traveling east on I-840 when it lost control and crossed the grass median onto the westbound side near mile marker 47. Then, a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia heading west on the interstate hit the Audi as it entered the semi-truck’s lane.
The driver and the passenger of the Audi — identified by THP as 48-year-old Sonephet Khamsyvoravong and 42-year-old Kevin Kipping, respectively — were both fatally injured in the crash, even though the two Tennesseans were wearing their seatbelts.
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Florida man driving the Freightliner was also wearing his seatbelt, but he was not injured in the collision. He is not facing any charges in connection with the incident.
