Update: The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) is investigating after a driver was injured in a crash on Interstate 26 East, which closed the interstate for several hours.
A release from the JCPD states the crash was reported shortly before noon Tuesday near mile marker 21. A Nissan Xterra was heading east when it left the road, traveled onto the left shoulder and hit a guardrail.
The Nissan reportedly overturned before coming to a rest.
The driver of the Nissan was taken to the Johnson City Medical Center with serious injuries, according to the JCPD.
Eastbound lanes reopened by 3:30 p.m., Johnson City police reported.
A second crash was reported on I-26 West near the Boones Creek exit around 3 p.m. Traffic was backed up for several exits following that crash, but as of 6 p.m. westbound lanes had reopened.
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – A multi-vehicle crash in Johnson City has closed lanes on Interstate 26 East Tuesday, and another has at least one westbound lane closed in Boones Creek.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the first crash occurred near mile marker 21 between the Unaka Avenue and North Roan Street exits. The TDOT SmartWay Map states the crash was reported to the department at 11:55 a.m.
The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) posted to its Facebook page at 12:50 p.m. stating a “serious crash” had closed the eastbound lanes. According to the JCPD, traffic is being directed off the Roan St. exit due to the crash on the Mountcastle overpass.
As of 2 p.m., both eastbound lanes were closed for miles.
Then at around 3 p.m., TDOT reported a second crash near mile marker 17 in the westbound lanes. The TDOT map shows the westbound right lane was closed with traffic backed up to the State of Franklin exit.
