The Knoxville Police Department is investigating two separate fatal crashes that happened on I-40 East Sunday night.
The first crash occurred at around 8:15 p.m. on I-40 East near the Papermill Drive exit. Officers responded to the location on a report that pedestrian had been struck.
Officers arrived on scene and confirmed that a male pedestrian was fatally struck initially by a Honda SUV and then a Mazda SUV after attempting to run across I-40 East for unknown reasons. Both involved vehicles remained on scene.
The victim has been tentatively identified, pending confirmation by Medical Examiner’s Office personnel.
The second crash happened at around 10:45 p.m. on I-40 East near the West Hills exit. Officers responded to that location on a report that a Chevy Corvette had collided with the back of a semi-truck. Officers and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene, where the Corvette driver, an adult man, was pronounced dead.
Based on the investigation conducted at the scene, it is believed that the semi-truck was slowing down for traffic when the Corvette struck the back side of the truck. Speed was likely a factor in the crash.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Both crashes are under active investigation by KPD crash reconstruction personnel.
