(Photo: WBIR)
Looking at the victims of the I-40 crash that happened early Wednesday morning
Brian Barger, Mark Bergin and Brittany Bade, WBIR 10:22 PM. EST July 20, 2016
KNOXVILLE - A recent Maryville College and a Virginia truck driver have been identified as the two people killed in a fatal head-on crash that shut down the interstate for nearly ten hours on Wednesday.
Knoxville Police said a 911 caller reported an SUV going the wrong way onto I-40 from the James White Parkway exit around 1:04 a.m. Within seconds, another 911 call said two vehicles had crashed between the Alcoa Highway exit and 17th Street.
When officers arrived, they discovered the SUV and semi had crashed head on.
Investigators determined Maryville's Anthony Swartz, 21, was the driver of the SUV, and Carroll Trent, 67, from Evington, Virginia was the driver of the semi.
Both men died at the scene.
Maryville College confirmed Swartz graduated from the school in May. He also ran cross country at Gibbs High School, according to Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Jeff Thomas.
Anthony Swartz, a Maryville man killed in a head-on crash on I-40, recently graduated from Maryville College and was a 2012 Gibbs High School grad.
Wednesday's head on crash led to a fire that engulfed the truck, which was hauling several hundred pounds of a corrosive material called Benzoquinone, according to KPD.
Crews let the product burn out to avoid the possibility of further soil and water contamination.
Before the lanes of I-40 reopened, crews were diverting traffic to I-275 North.
Video: I-40 East re-opens near downtown Knoxville. pic.twitter.com/FU5bKHYv3f— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) July 20, 2016
LIVE on #Periscope: I-40 East set re-opening in downtown Knoxville. https://t.co/GWBOrs6ZuY— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) July 20, 2016
Cleanup continues on I-40 East near downtown Knoxville. Roadway expected to re-open at approx. 11am. pic.twitter.com/j51HUH00JF— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) July 20, 2016
Video: Debris removal continues, I-40 East near downtown Knoxville. Roadway remains closed. https://t.co/5QU3lCiHzI pic.twitter.com/VcqKEKcwlm— myTDOT (@myTDOT) July 20, 2016
Video: TDOT crews continue cleanup on I-40 East near downtown Knoxville. I-40 West is back open. pic.twitter.com/3kYm9URX2u— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) July 20, 2016
All West bound lanes of I-40 to open in the next few minutes pic.twitter.com/NZyDpb0skk— Knoxville Fire (@KnoxvilleFire) July 20, 2016
Video: Crews working to re-open I-40 in Knoxville following serious early morning crash. pic.twitter.com/z0crVxHgoy— myTDOT (@myTDOT) July 20, 2016
Video: Early morning crash shuts down I-40 East and West at MM 387 in Knoxville. https://t.co/DgdNE0NCux pic.twitter.com/g86KJyhxIh— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) July 20, 2016
Beginning to drag away what's left of the scorched tractor trailer involved in this mornings fatal wreck @wbir pic.twitter.com/PZsv9xtzX2— Brittany Bade (@BrittanyWBIR) July 20, 2016
Both East & West lanes I-40 remain closed at this time. TDOT working to open west bound lane soon. pic.twitter.com/DrVmR5PTzA— Knoxville Fire (@KnoxvilleFire) July 20, 2016
I-40 WB/EB closed at MM 387 due to serious multi-vehicle crash that occurred at approx. 130am. Traffic diverted. pic.twitter.com/FNd1wV97HF— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) July 20, 2016
KPD Traffic Alert: All traffic on I-40 at I-275 will be diverted onto I-275 North. Avoid I-40 at I-275! pic.twitter.com/OetFhXSbqs— Knoxville Police (@Knoxville_PD) July 20, 2016
KPD Traffic Alert: I-275 S to 40 W is closed. 275 S to 40 E is open. Use I-640 to travel through Knoxville. pic.twitter.com/QUPlvfjzei— Knoxville Police (@Knoxville_PD) July 20, 2016
KPD Traffic Alert:All lanes of I-40 at I-275 are closed due to multi-fatal crash. Will be closed for hours. pic.twitter.com/pAAkbVuyb0— Knoxville Police (@Knoxville_PD) July 20, 2016
I-40 East bound closed near I-275 North due to head on wreck involving a semi truck and passenger vehicle. Avoid area.— Knoxville Fire (@KnoxvilleFire) July 20, 2016
(© 2016 WBIR)