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Nashville trucker dead after crashing into I-40 overpass in Tennessee; TDOT says repair could take weeks

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Nashville trucker dead after crashing into I-40 overpass in Tennessee; TDOT says repair could take weeks
A Nashville truck driver was killed Wednesday, June 23, when his tractor-trailer crashed into the support column of an overpass bridge on I-40 West in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. (Courtesy: Heather Jensen/TDOT via Twitter)

MT. JULIET, Tenn. — A truck driver was killed Wednesday morning, June 23, when the tractor-trailer he was driving struck an Interstate 40 overpass in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, just east of Nashville.

According to News Channel 5 Nashville, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) confirmed the crash happened shortly after 5 a.m. at the Mt. Juliet Road overpass. THP officials said the driver, Luthor Stinson, 80, of Nashville, Tennessee, lost control of the rig, traveled onto the right shoulder of the interstate, went through the guardrail and a support column before bursting into flames.

The accident was in a construction zone where the overpass bridge is being widened, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) says, and caused “severe damage” to the column. Repair work is expected to take up to three weeks.

During the repairs, lane restrictions will be in place on I-40 West and Mt. Juliet Road North:

  • I-40 West will be reduced to three lanes approaching the interchange;
  • Juliet Road North will be reduced to three lanes — two turn lanes to I-40 West and one through lane to Mt. Juliet Road North.
  • I-40 East traffic exiting onto Mt. Juliet Road North at Exit 226B will yield to Mt. Juliet Road traffic (no free flow movement).

TDOT anticipates shifting westbound interstate traffic closer to the median to maintain three travel lanes. Message boards are in place near the interchange to alert motorists of lane closures and shifts.

The timeline for repairs is dependent on the condition of the support column; bridge inspectors will be on site throughout the repairs to determine if more work needs to be done.

The Trucker News Staff

The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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9 Comments

Well hell man blame the fucking
Gov. They w AZ nt ever body to be 80 befor they can retire then you can’t draw enough to live so hell yes I see a fucking problem what the fuck is up you are probably a worthless ass bitch dmc arnt you

Yeah here’s the main problem the government doesn’t give you enough fucking money through social security to retire so we have these people out here that are way past the age of driving just trying to make enough money so they don’t have to eat dog food every month and make enough money to buy their medication if the government would pay you a decent wage on social security 80 year old man would not have to be out here driving trucks you stupid fuck.

I know we all love to do what we’re out here doing, but there comes a time, when we need to just let it go, so that we’re not danger to ourselves and others.

Blame the worthless bastards
That run our country they keep the retirement age higher and then you can’t fucking live on the shit hell you are probably one of the mfs that voted for the worthless bastards

Your comment makes about as much sense as a screen door in the submarine you either need to learn your politics or keep your analytical mindless thoughts to yourself cuz when you open your mouth and make comments like that you do make yourself look stupid.

Can anyone recall news reports of 20-40 year old drivers crashing their trucks? Of course you can. Yes, this guy was older than the majority of us. But none of us can say that we know for sure what caused the crash, what his health or cognitive abilities were. Speculation is foolishness at best.
What we have is a fellow truck driver who was killed in a tragic accident. He has family members more than likely and maybe a spouse that just lost her husband. I’m sure there was a reason he was still driving. We all have to get a DOT physical and we are all human and susceptible to strokes, heart attacks, sleepiness, or inattentiveness.
I see no problem with his age as long as he was licensed and physically capable of doing his job safely. God comfort his family and allow him to rest in peace.

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