Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on March 5, 2015
Interstate 65 Closed after Crash in Spring Hill
A serious accident Thursday afternoon in Maury County, Tennessee, led to a long stretch of Interstate 65 being closed for several hours while emergency crews worked to clear the accident scene.
According to a report by wkrn.com, the accident occurred around 3 p.m. at mile marker 55 near State Route 840 and Saturn Parkway in Spring Hill.
There are no details on what caused the crash or how many people were involved, but a LifeFlight helicopter responded to the scene to transport victims to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation says that much of I-65 is covered in a thick layer of ice, making travel extremely dangerous. The agency urges drivers to stay off the roads if possible and to drive slowly and cautiously if they can’t stay home.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Spring Hill car accident lawyers hope the victims in this accident recover from their injuries and that other drivers are able to stay safe on the icy roads throughout Middle Tennessee.
What Causes Interstates to Shut Down?
Although interstates are highly effective at providing a safe route for millions of drivers per year, sometimes these widely traveled roads must be shut down or closed for brief periods of time. When this happens it’s generally due to a few different circumstances, including:
Car accidents that involve severe injuries, multiple vehicles, or large trucks that block part of the roadway can cause interstates to shut down while emergency crews work to clear the scene. In some cases, it can take several hours for road crews to completely clean up any potential dangerous debris and to remove any damaged vehicles from the road.
Certain weather conditions can make interstates nearly impassable and extremely dangerous to drive on, requiring road crews to close on ramps and entire sections of the road. Conditions like extreme fog, heavy ice accumulation, and flooding can necessitate the closing of interstates until normal weather conditions resume. Closing interstates for severe weather is common in areas with a high degree of incline or decline, as bad weather can become much more dangerous when cars are going up or down a hill or mountain.
Because of the sheer number of vehicles that drive on nearly every stretch of interstates in the United States, these roadways eventually require extensive repairs to remain in safe condition. While road crews can occasionally perform repairs late at night and while closing only certain lanes, other conditions may require the complete closure of an interstate for several hours or even days while repairs are completed.
A significant number of trucks that use interstates in Tennessee carry chemicals and gases that are extremely hazardous to other drivers. Whether it was due to an accident or simply negligent loading procedures, trucks that spill hazardous cargo can cause interstates to shut down for long periods of time while specialized crews arrive at the scene and clean up the chemicals. The more dangerous the chemical is, the longer the interstate could be closed.
Interstate closures are a big inconvenience for most drivers, but they generally happen for a good reason, and that’s to keep drivers and their passengers as safe as possible on the roadway.
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident on any of Tennessee’s interstates, contact the Spring Hill car accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law. We’re here to help you get the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form today.
