nighthawks
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Many cars and Semi's. Calling many FD, Amb, ST police.
Benton county area. 1-40 around exit 133.
Benton county area. 1-40 around exit 133.
Major accident 1-40 & exit 133 @ 9:30am
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March 28th, 2007
By Dave Bertrand
Today’s I-40 wreck at the 133 eastbound in Benton County, Tennessee, was not your typical 18 wheeler rollover, burning wreck, but strained Benton County’s resources beyond their capabilities, and resembled a disaster that we are obviously not prepared for.
This morning the initial call to BCSO 911 was a motor vehicle wreck with possible injuries. On channel 19, the reports were coming into Traffic Alert USA as very serious, with multiple vehicles involved….one driver stating, “A vehicle is completely under an 18 wheeler!”
More 911 calls into BCSO revealed a serious wreck now involved more than one 18 wheeler and several 4 wheelers with entrapment.
The bottom of the hill as you approach the Tennessee River Bridge is often plagued by vehicle wrecks during inclement weather. Now…if that wasn’t enough, a minor explosion involving an 18 wheeler at the 161 mile marker added to the chaos that unfolded.
EMS and Benton County Rescue, all fire departments and law enforcement raced to the scene. Traffic began to back-up in both directions, making it difficult for first responders to access the scene. Once at the scene, it was determined that AirEvac would be needed, along with more ambulances. A landing zone (LZ) set-up, turned-out to be a waste of time.
The wreck now became a disaster in the works as first responders, doing the best that they could, were now faced with an unprecedented situation that lasted for hours.
AirEvac could not respond because of weather. Other counties responded with EMS, but could not get to the scene. Decatur County had no one available. A lone paramedic was attempting to reach the scene from Madison County and was having great difficulty negotiating the backed-up traffic. The westbound lane had to be shutdown to allow first responders access to the scene. Traffic eastbound continued to back-up for miles.
Traffic Alert USA began the tedious duty of reporting the hazard to drivers approaching the 126 exit, while encouraging them to exit the interstate as a recommendation. The Traffic Alert station in Trenton coordinated with Madison County S.O. about the situation evolving in Benton County. The decision was made to begin diverting traffic off the interstate at exit 87, which helped drivers, while reducing the back-up. It was reported later, the back-up distance began at the 116 mile marker by 1:25pm. It’s undeterminable if the back-up could have extended further west, without the help of Madison County and Traffic Alert (Trenton) station.
Tennessee Highway Patrol and Benton County officially shutdown exit 126 eastbound within about 20 to 30 minutes from our initial recommendation for drivers approaching exit 126 to exit. THP stated at one point, the interstate was shutdown from the 126 to the 163 mile marker. By quickly diverting traffic, combined with a heads-up to drivers about the hazard ahead of them, the safety factor increases. Traffic begins to slow (usually) and all those behind are slowing as well. This we do 24/7 in several states since September 2005.
Once it was made official for drivers to exit the interstate, directives were given to drivers under FCC emergency use of communications. We now had an emergency on our hands as Hwy 70, 641, and 412 became a nightmare for drivers, while the interstate was completely shutdown.
Normally, the worst of some wrecks we’ve experienced on I-40 have not been this complicated, but oddly enough, today was a different situation like no other I have seen in a while. Not enough ambulances, no AirEvac, the inability to get to the scene, oxygen needed, and medical help was short on supply.
Today we saw a resemblance of a disaster that we could easily be faced with in the event of a terrorist attack on the Tennessee River Bridge, let alone a second attack on the Hwy 70 Bridge into New Johnsonville. The county would be shutdown, and first responders would be overwhelmed as they were today.
As the situation became worse, with trucks backed-up on 641 South at the 70 bypass, we decided to discuss alternates with drivers (eventually) heading north from Nashville. We recommended that drivers heading north, keep going north towards Paris (TN) and take Hwy 79 over to Clarksville. Did it make a difference, probably some…..but the crisis had reached a saturation point. Even though our Trenton station convinced Madison County to divert traffic at Exit 87, the problem had already maxed-out for everyone.
Traffic control at busy intersections was handled in some areas, but apparent that there was a lack of personnel in other problem areas.
Today was a lesson in the making, and maybe a plan is needed for such a disaster, requiring the activation of all CERT personnel, (most are fire fighters), and reserve deputies. In addition, as I mentioned last year, a volunteer group of off-duty paramedics, nurses and doctors could be activated in such a crisis. We do not have that resource, or it wasn’t considered. However, dispatch or those at the scene either knew how bad it was, or felt it wasn’t that bad.
From my perspective, it was apparent that all available personnel were stretched to the limit. If there had been another medical emergency in other parts of Benton County, it would have been a problem, and I am sure that is disputable.
The point though…today was a learning experience for planning and coordination of the next event, be it a disaster of great magnitude, or a serious wreck.
All personnel did a great job, considering what was available, and coordination was a bit shaky with directives to shutdown the westbound side, and when to open it up, since emergency equipment was using the westbound side, traveling east to the scene. On top of all that, a drunk driver from Holladay was side swiping vehicles on the eastbound side, prior to him reaching Exit 126. He was arrested. And…to put the icing on the cake, a wreck occurred about the same time at Exit 126, and another on Hwy 70 on the east side of the river, shutting down Hwy 70 for a short period of time. Then a few minutes later, a driver on 641 at Airport Road decided to drive his/her car into a ditch, but nobody was hurt.
I was not at the scene, but the big question would be….were there too many fire volunteers at the scene, and could some of them assisted with traffic elsewhere in the county, and could we have activated other fire departments for the major traffic problems on 641 and Hwy 70, while relieving law enforcement to deal with other pressing issues?
I doubt that anyone can answer that question, but maybe a coordinated effort should be made to call-up other available personnel during an emergency, but as always, volunteers are on short supply, and all we can do is be ready to help your neighbors for anything they need in a disaster.
Today should be a wake-up call, but for those that feel it was handled very well….let me say, you did the best that you could, but definitely short on resources. In addition, since our county is host to commercial traffic up and down 641, and Hwy 70 east and west, it is important for law enforcement to communicate with drivers on channel 19…..for the simple reason, many haven’t a clue which way to go when taken off the interstate. If that wasn’t true, we would not have been as busy as we were today.
Traffic Alert USA is a nationwide network of communication base stations, “Saving Lives Through Highway Hazard Avoidance Networking and Professional Driver Notification Alerts.” We have over 600 stations now from coast to coast and growing. Several station operators are part of Homeland Security’s Highway Watch program.
For more information, visit our website at: www.TrafficAlertUSA.com
By Dave Bertrand
Today’s I-40 wreck at the 133 eastbound in Benton County, Tennessee, was not your typical 18 wheeler rollover, burning wreck, but strained Benton County’s resources beyond their capabilities, and resembled a disaster that we are obviously not prepared for.
This morning the initial call to BCSO 911 was a motor vehicle wreck with possible injuries. On channel 19, the reports were coming into Traffic Alert USA as very serious, with multiple vehicles involved….one driver stating, “A vehicle is completely under an 18 wheeler!”
More 911 calls into BCSO revealed a serious wreck now involved more than one 18 wheeler and several 4 wheelers with entrapment.
The bottom of the hill as you approach the Tennessee River Bridge is often plagued by vehicle wrecks during inclement weather. Now…if that wasn’t enough, a minor explosion involving an 18 wheeler at the 161 mile marker added to the chaos that unfolded.
EMS and Benton County Rescue, all fire departments and law enforcement raced to the scene. Traffic began to back-up in both directions, making it difficult for first responders to access the scene. Once at the scene, it was determined that AirEvac would be needed, along with more ambulances. A landing zone (LZ) set-up, turned-out to be a waste of time.
The wreck now became a disaster in the works as first responders, doing the best that they could, were now faced with an unprecedented situation that lasted for hours.
AirEvac could not respond because of weather. Other counties responded with EMS, but could not get to the scene. Decatur County had no one available. A lone paramedic was attempting to reach the scene from Madison County and was having great difficulty negotiating the backed-up traffic. The westbound lane had to be shutdown to allow first responders access to the scene. Traffic eastbound continued to back-up for miles.
Traffic Alert USA began the tedious duty of reporting the hazard to drivers approaching the 126 exit, while encouraging them to exit the interstate as a recommendation. The Traffic Alert station in Trenton coordinated with Madison County S.O. about the situation evolving in Benton County. The decision was made to begin diverting traffic off the interstate at exit 87, which helped drivers, while reducing the back-up. It was reported later, the back-up distance began at the 116 mile marker by 1:25pm. It’s undeterminable if the back-up could have extended further west, without the help of Madison County and Traffic Alert (Trenton) station.
Tennessee Highway Patrol and Benton County officially shutdown exit 126 eastbound within about 20 to 30 minutes from our initial recommendation for drivers approaching exit 126 to exit. THP stated at one point, the interstate was shutdown from the 126 to the 163 mile marker. By quickly diverting traffic, combined with a heads-up to drivers about the hazard ahead of them, the safety factor increases. Traffic begins to slow (usually) and all those behind are slowing as well. This we do 24/7 in several states since September 2005.
Once it was made official for drivers to exit the interstate, directives were given to drivers under FCC emergency use of communications. We now had an emergency on our hands as Hwy 70, 641, and 412 became a nightmare for drivers, while the interstate was completely shutdown.
Normally, the worst of some wrecks we’ve experienced on I-40 have not been this complicated, but oddly enough, today was a different situation like no other I have seen in a while. Not enough ambulances, no AirEvac, the inability to get to the scene, oxygen needed, and medical help was short on supply.
Today we saw a resemblance of a disaster that we could easily be faced with in the event of a terrorist attack on the Tennessee River Bridge, let alone a second attack on the Hwy 70 Bridge into New Johnsonville. The county would be shutdown, and first responders would be overwhelmed as they were today.
As the situation became worse, with trucks backed-up on 641 South at the 70 bypass, we decided to discuss alternates with drivers (eventually) heading north from Nashville. We recommended that drivers heading north, keep going north towards Paris (TN) and take Hwy 79 over to Clarksville. Did it make a difference, probably some…..but the crisis had reached a saturation point. Even though our Trenton station convinced Madison County to divert traffic at Exit 87, the problem had already maxed-out for everyone.
Traffic control at busy intersections was handled in some areas, but apparent that there was a lack of personnel in other problem areas.
Today was a lesson in the making, and maybe a plan is needed for such a disaster, requiring the activation of all CERT personnel, (most are fire fighters), and reserve deputies. In addition, as I mentioned last year, a volunteer group of off-duty paramedics, nurses and doctors could be activated in such a crisis. We do not have that resource, or it wasn’t considered. However, dispatch or those at the scene either knew how bad it was, or felt it wasn’t that bad.
From my perspective, it was apparent that all available personnel were stretched to the limit. If there had been another medical emergency in other parts of Benton County, it would have been a problem, and I am sure that is disputable.
The point though…today was a learning experience for planning and coordination of the next event, be it a disaster of great magnitude, or a serious wreck.
All personnel did a great job, considering what was available, and coordination was a bit shaky with directives to shutdown the westbound side, and when to open it up, since emergency equipment was using the westbound side, traveling east to the scene. On top of all that, a drunk driver from Holladay was side swiping vehicles on the eastbound side, prior to him reaching Exit 126. He was arrested. And…to put the icing on the cake, a wreck occurred about the same time at Exit 126, and another on Hwy 70 on the east side of the river, shutting down Hwy 70 for a short period of time. Then a few minutes later, a driver on 641 at Airport Road decided to drive his/her car into a ditch, but nobody was hurt.
I was not at the scene, but the big question would be….were there too many fire volunteers at the scene, and could some of them assisted with traffic elsewhere in the county, and could we have activated other fire departments for the major traffic problems on 641 and Hwy 70, while relieving law enforcement to deal with other pressing issues?
I doubt that anyone can answer that question, but maybe a coordinated effort should be made to call-up other available personnel during an emergency, but as always, volunteers are on short supply, and all we can do is be ready to help your neighbors for anything they need in a disaster.
Today should be a wake-up call, but for those that feel it was handled very well….let me say, you did the best that you could, but definitely short on resources. In addition, since our county is host to commercial traffic up and down 641, and Hwy 70 east and west, it is important for law enforcement to communicate with drivers on channel 19…..for the simple reason, many haven’t a clue which way to go when taken off the interstate. If that wasn’t true, we would not have been as busy as we were today.
Traffic Alert USA is a nationwide network of communication base stations, “Saving Lives Through Highway Hazard Avoidance Networking and Professional Driver Notification Alerts.” We have over 600 stations now from coast to coast and growing. Several station operators are part of Homeland Security’s Highway Watch program.
For more information, visit our website at: www.TrafficAlertUSA.com
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