UPDATE: One dead as a result of last week’s I-26 crash
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Interstate 26 crash closes east bound lanes at...
Washington County, TN officials have closed Interstate 26 eastbound lanes due to a crash at the Gray exit. The crash happened around 9:00 pm.
UPDATE 11/16/09
Yesterday, Nov. 15, at 4:20 pm, one of the drivers of last week’s crash on Interstate 26 died.
Jamin M. Dodd, 19, 900 Cooks Valley Rd. #67 Kingsport, died as a result of his injuries.
The crash remains under investigation by the Johnson City Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team.
UPDATE: 8 a.m.
All lanes are open again this morning on Interstate 26, after a head-on collision between two vehicles shut down a portion of the interstate, and sent both drivers to the hospital with injuries.
The Johnson City Police Department says the crash happened on I-26 near the Gray exit around 9 p.m. last night. The wreck forced the closure of both eastbound lanes. Those lanes opened again about 11:30 p.m. According to police, the driver of a Mitsubishi Eclipse, Jamin M. Dodd, 19, Kingsport, was going westbound on I-26 when the car left the road, crossed over the median and slammed into a Honda Civic going eastbound. Police say Katie Flanary, 28, Jonesborough, was driving the Honda Civic.
Emergency crews took Dodd and Flanary to Johnson City Medical Center. The hospital says Dodd is in serious condition, while Flanary is in fair condition.
Police tell 11 Connects that charges are pending in this crash because they believe alcohol played a role in the incident. Police did not elaborate on which driver might be charged.
Police say the crash is being investigated by the Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team.
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UPDATE: 1:23 a.m.
The Johnson City Police Department says all lanes are back open on Interstate 26 at the Gray exit after two cars hit head-on in the eastbound lanes.
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UPDATE: 11:10 p.m.
Washington County, Tennessee officials tell 11 Connects one eastbound lane is now open on Interstate 26 at the Gray exit. You will still need to use extreme caution since there is still one eastbound lane closed in that area.
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Washington County, Tennessee officials have closed Interstate 26 eastbound lanes due to a crash with injuries at the Gray exit. The crash happened around 9:00 p.m.
Traffic should detour at the Eastern Star Road exit or at the Interstate 81 interchange.
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Reader Reactions
venturous-
I get around 10 mpg. That’s at 50mph or 90mph, towing or not towing. No noticable difference.
If you drive that stretch of road from Kingsport to JC and go five MPH Over the speed limit, you will still be passed like you are setting still. And God forbid if you pull out to pass someone and you are only going five over. The pickups and SUV’s will be all over you. By the way, what kind of gas maleage does a F-250 get at 90 mph anyway?
evaningstar—
I drive this stretch several times daily. There are issues with the sun limiting visibility during sunrise and sunset that cause problems - but other than that, I don’t thing we can blame the road. The people driving on it are the danger.
The main problem with this crash I assume was the weather last night. The other serious issue is the HUGE influx of traffic due to the closing of I40. Of course if alcohol was indeed involved that is deadly enough in itself, despite the other factors.
Why is this road so dangerous, I cringe every time I have to drive on it. And I thought those guidewires were supposed to prevent median crossings…
And..I have never seen police patrols on that part of the ineterstate. I see them often on the Johnson City side but never the Kingsport side..which is where the most accidents happen.
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