High traffic volume on I-40 detour routes means more wrecks, and more traffic

A crash just before four this morning sent one to the hospital.
    It happened on Highway 81, in Washington County, Tenn., near the intersection of Deacon Creek Road, about a mile from the Unicoi County line.
    Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper, Dexter Lunceford, says the driver of a pickup truck was seen swerving, and crossed over the center line, hitting a tractor trailer pulling a race car.
    The tractor trailer carried three passengers, none of whom were hurt, but there was considerable damage to the trailer.
    The pickup was towed just before 5:30, and the driver of the pick-up, James Effler, was taken to Johnson City Medical Center for injuries. He is listed in fair condition.
    Neighbors say there has been a major increase in traffic on Highway 81, since I-40 has closed, especially for tractor trailers.
    The increased traffic on Highway 81 is the same for Interstate 26. Emergency workers say they’ve seen a major increase in traffic, which was delayed during rush hour this morning.
    A tractor trailer caught fire between Exits 27 and 32 on I-26. Both lanes of westbound traffic were stopped for at least a half hour a little after six this morning.
    Unicoi’s assistant fire chief, Randall Oaks, said the 18-wheeler’s brakes probably got hot coming down the mountain, which set the tires on fire, which spread to the entire trailer.
    “Believe it’s when he came around the mountain,“ Oaks said, “(He) had to use his breaks a lot. We got a lot of traffic since the closure of 40, so we’ve had a lot of 18 wheeler traffic.“
    Don’t expect the traffic crunch to end soon; the North Carolina Highway patrol says that it will take at least four months to get the two lanes on I-40 open again.