Nine people injured in Wednesday morning wreck on I-75, two fatally

ROCKY TOP, TN (WLAF)- A predawn multi-vehicle wreck claimed two lives and kept southbound I-75 at Rocky Top shutdown for nearly 12 hours on Wednesday. Friday evening, the Tennessee Highway Patrol released its preliminary report from the 1:50am accident.

The four vehicles involved were a 2012 Kenworth tractor trailer, a 2024 Nissan Sentra, a 2022 Jeep Wrangler and a 2020 Volvo 18-wheeler. The driver of the Kenworth was 68 year old Dennis Jacobsen, and the passenger was Mary Ann Jacobsen, 63, both of Utah. Marsha Stover, 35, was behind the wheel of the Nissan, and had three juveniles in her vehicle, a 15, 13 and six year old, all of Pennsylvania. The Jeep was the third vehicle in the mishap with 35 year old Pedro Sanchez of Tennessee driving, and his passenger was Jose Avina, 65, of Mexico. Douglas Ray Lancaster, 60, from the state of Kentucky was the driver and lone occupant in the Volvo.

All nine people in the wreck were injured. The two men in the Jeep, Sanchez and Avina, died from their injuries, according to the THP report.

The Kenworth. along with the Nissan, Jeep and Volvo, were traveling south on I-75 at Mile Marker 128, just south of the Norris Dam Exit, at 1:50 Wednesday morning. The Kenworth was following the other three vehicles and struck the other vehicles in the rear end, based on the preliminary report from the THP.

The vehicles were scattered over and off the interstate. The Kenworth and the Volvo, the big rigs, both came to an uncontrolled rest off the roadway. The Nissan ended up on the right side of the interstate with the Jeep’s final rest coming in the center of I-75.

In the THP report, it is stated that the driver of the Kenworth was following improperly, and that charges are pending for both Jacobsens. It was not known if the men who died were wearing a seat belt. The seven others who were injured were wearing a seat belt. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/17/2024-11AM)

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