KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. (WTVF) — Interstate 40 reopened around 3:15 Saturday morning, after a tractor trailer hauling a highly flammable substance overturned in Cheatham County. The crash caused the closure of both directions of the interstate for nearly 18 hours, and residents within half a mile were evacuated from their homes.
The incident happened Friday morning at mile marker 186, near Kingston Springs.
According to crews at the scene, a tanker and another vehicle were involved in the crash. The driver of the tanker had his legs trapped on the passenger's side of the vehicle as it flipped. Crews needed 30 minutes to remove the driver, before being lifeflighted to Vanderbilt Hospital.
The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
Sky 5 flew over the scene as crews were working to rescue the tanker driver from the vehicle.
Tennessee Highway Patrol officials said “hazardous flammable liquid” is leaking onto the roadway. According to placards on the vehicle, the tanker was carrying Methyl Mehtacrylate, a chemical used to make plastics.
