Two people were killed in a crash on Interstate 40 in Dickson County.
The wreck happened around 8 a.m. Sunday in the eastbound lanes of the interstate near mile marker 174.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, multiple lanes of the interstate were blocked for several hours as crews on scene investigated.
THP officials said a tractor-trailer, driven by 61-year-old James D. Jones, was sitting disabled on the side of the interstate when a pickup truck, driven by 44-year-old David E. Isabell, approached.
Isabell's truck drove onto the side of the road and side-swiped the disabled semi before veering back into traffic, then off the road into a wooded area, striking multiple trees.
Both 20-year-old Shelby R. Cox and 23-year-old Cameron T. Isabell were killed in the crash. They were passenger’s in David Isabell’s truck.
Also in Isabell’s truck was 37-year-old Lawrence M. Reddick. Both David Isabell and Reddick were injured in the crash.
The semi driver and his passenger, 63-year-old Carol Jean D. Jones were not injured.
Authorities with the Tennessee Highway Patrol said they believe this crash could have been avoided if the pickup truck would have moved over to give more space to the tractor trailer.
“Anybody you see on the shoulder, if you can move over, do move over,” Sergeant Travis Plotzer with THP said.
Both of those killed were not wearing their seatbelts.
“That’s the one thing that somebody has a decision over where they can make a choice to put it on and effect them solely and help save their life," Plotzer said of the seatbelts.
Unfortunately, this fatal wreck was just one of many this year. As of Friday, there have been 56 more traffic fatalities in Tennessee up to this time this year, versus at this time last year.
“That’s a number, but those are families that are affected, and we take that very serious," Plotzer said.
The crash remained under investigation.
