Fatal 1-24 Crash Takes One Life Monday Evening

Fatal 1-24 Crash Takes One Life Monday Evening

(STORY UPDATED)

ROBERTSON COUNTY TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – A large commercial refrigerated box truck left the roadway on I-24 Monday evening and plowed into a row of trees killing one.

The accident occurred on the Eastbound side of I-24 around 7:20 pm near mile-marker 21, between the Maxey Rd and Hwy 49 exits. MAP The Tennessee Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the crash.

Officials tell Smokey Barn News that the container was empty. The vehicle landed some 50 feet off the Interstate allowing investigators to access the scene without shutting down the Interstate.

Robertson County EMS, the Robertson County Emergency Management Agency, the Pleasent View Fire Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Medical Examiners Office all responded to the scene.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the driver, now identified as Zizhong Wang, 56, of Louisville, KY, did not survive the crash. A single passenger, Lu Dunfu, 53, of Reading Pennsylvania, was transported to NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield (according to Robertson County EMS) with non-critical injuries.

According to the THP’s preliminary report of the crash, the vehicle (2013 Hino 268 Straight Truck) was traveling East on I-24 when it veered off the right side of the roadway and into the treeline, striking numerous trees. The left side of the cargo compartment was torn from the truck upon impact. The report did not elaborate on what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway. The report did mention that Wang was properly restrained.

The thoughts and prayers of the staff at Smokey Barn News will be with the family and friends of the victim as they face the days ahead.

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