Crash on I-81

Around 3:30 on October 2, there was a crash on Interstate 81 in Smyth County. According to AccidentIn, the accident was caused by a large truck transporting gasoline. The driver of the truck, Frank Skeens, Jr., who was 48 years old, swerved and turned the truck on its side. The gasoline truck slid into a pickup truck, driven by Trevor Blankenship, who was 30 years old, and exploded. The gasoline truck also hit a highway crash cushion truck, which 27 year old Kenterrious L. Christian of Taylors was driving. All three vehicles caught fire.

The accident was devastating, and many locals could see the smoke from their homes. Both Skeens and Blankenship died at the scene, and Christian died while going to the hospital. Skeens and Blankenship were from Lebanon, and Christian was from South Carolina. Our thoughts will be with their families and friends.

-Dylan Crigger