All lanes of I-40 have reopened in Jefferson County earlier today, Oct. 3, after being closed for 15 hours due to a crash.
Police reported that a bus was traveling eastbound on I-40 when the vehicle's left front tire popped.
The crash took place at approximately 2 p.m.
The bus then crashed through a median barricade before hitting a tractor trailer truck and a SUV with a boat in the westbound lanes.
At least eight people were killed during the crash, according to ChristianPost.com. Six people from the bus, one person from the tractor trailer, and one from the SUV were killed.
"We have eight bodies at the scene. We hope and pray there are no more. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these families," said Sgt. Bill Miller said in a statement.
The church bus was returning from an event called the Fall Jubilee in Gatlinburg.
The tractor trailer burst into flames and the bus wound up on its side by the time more cars reached the vehicles.
"Our thoughts are with our friends at Front Street Baptist Church in their tragic loss. Pastor Johnny Hunt, the congregation at First Baptist Church Woodstock, and all the Jubilee team have you in our prayers," said The Fall Jubilee Conference in a statement.
The crash is still under investigation as of press time.
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