TENNESSEE — Two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash Sunday that shut down a portion of Interstate 840 in Rutherford County for several hours.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the crash was reported just before 11 a.m. near the Almaville Road exit. As crews and investigators worked the scene, all westbound lanes and one eastbound lane were closed. A traffic diversion was established at Exit 50, Veterans Parkway.
TDOT officials initially estimated the roadway would reopen around 3:30 p.m. Shortly after 3:15 p.m., the eastbound lanes reopened, but westbound traffic remained closed while crews cleared debris. The westbound lanes reopened just before 5 p.m.
In a preliminary crash report, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said a 2020 Audi R8 was traveling eastbound on I-840 when it lost control near mile marker 47 and crossed the grassy median into the westbound lanes. A 2015 Freightliner Cascadia traveling west then struck the Audi as it entered the truck’s lane.
The driver of the Audi, 48-year-old Sonephet Khamsyvoravong, and a passenger, 42-year-old Kevin Kipping, were both killed in the crash. Troopers said both men, who were from Tennessee, were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.
The driver of the Freightliner, a 29-year-old man from Florida, was also wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Authorities said he is not facing any charges related to the crash.
No additional details have been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
