A violent crash on I-40 East in Nashville, Tennessee, has left one person dead and caused a major traffic disruption after a sedan caught fire and a garbage truck overturned during a multi-vehicle collision early Monday morning, August 24, 2026.
The crash happened shortly after 3 a.m. in the Hermitage area, near mile marker 221 between Stewarts Ferry Pike and Old Hickory Boulevard. Metro Nashville Police Department officers responded to the scene and found a sedan engulfed in flames and a garbage truck overturned on the interstate.
According to police, the collision involved multiple passenger vehicles, a sedan and a garbage truck. Medical personnel pronounced one person dead at the scene.
The severity of the crash prompted authorities to shut down all eastbound lanes of I-40 while investigators and emergency crews worked at the scene.
I-40 East Closed After Deadly Crash
The collision has created significant disruption for motorists travelling through the eastern part of Nashville.
Traffic has been diverted from I-40 East at Stewarts Ferry Pike, Exit 219, with drivers able to reconnect with the interstate at Old Hickory Boulevard. Authorities have not provided a definite time for when the eastbound lanes will reopen.
The closure is expected to cause delays for commuters and other drivers using I-40 through Hermitage and surrounding communities.
Motorists approaching the area are being urged to find an alternative route and avoid the crash scene. Drivers who encounter emergency vehicles or traffic queues should slow down and follow directions from police and transportation officials.
Nashville Crash Investigation Underway
The cause of the deadly collision has not yet been determined.
Metro Nashville Police’s fatal crash investigators are working to establish how the vehicles collided and what happened in the moments leading up to the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the damaged vehicles, roadway evidence and any available witness information or surveillance footage.
At this stage, authorities have not released the identity of the person who died.
The investigation could also determine whether additional people were injured in the collision. Initial reports have focused on the confirmed fatality and the extensive damage caused by the crash.
The overturned garbage truck and burning sedan created an especially difficult scene for emergency crews. Firefighters and other responders had to deal with the vehicle fire while also securing the area around the overturned truck and multiple damaged vehicles.
I-40 Traffic Today
The crash is likely to have a substantial effect on I-40 eastbound traffic in Nashville, particularly during the morning commute.
Drivers who normally use the interstate through Hermitage should allow extra travel time and consider alternative routes while the investigation and cleanup continue.
The incident also highlights the potential for secondary congestion when a major interstate crash closes every lane. Traffic can back up quickly as vehicles are diverted onto nearby surface streets.
At the time of the latest reports, there was no estimated reopening time for the eastbound lanes. Officials will need to complete the crash investigation and clear the wreckage before normal traffic can resume.
Drivers should avoid relying on outdated traffic information because conditions may change as emergency crews complete their work.
The I-40 East accident in Nashville remains an active traffic and fatal-crash investigation. One person has died after a multi-vehicle collision involving a garbage truck and a sedan that caught fire, while the garbage truck overturned. All eastbound lanes near Hermitage remain affected, with traffic being diverted as authorities investigate the deadly crash and work to clear the interstate.