Well, I didn’t make it home to Lexington tonight. Instead, I’m sitting in the truck at mile marker 114, straddling the white line between the right lane and the shoulder, surrounded by flashing hazard lights and stopped traffic. But I’m safe and sound thanks to a fine piece of driving by the hubby.
It started snowing north of Chattanooga, but just a few flurries. It starting sticking a little in Knoxville. And then, in the deadly S-curves between Powell and Racoon Valley Rd, disaster struck: black ice under a thin layer of snow. A semi trailer passed us doing 55mph, started to skid, and all we saw were red brakelights ahead of us. He jacknifed, we tried to stop, and we weaved from the concrete barrier to the ditch/rocky hillside and nearly spun around. Hubby didn’t panic, gently pulsed the brakes, and we managed to stop safely avoiding the other truck and stopped cars. We breathed a sigh of relief.
And BAM!! then the truck suddenly jolted forward. A Nissan Optima had plowed into the back of the truck (sans trailer). The driver’s fine, our truck is fine (minus a mudflap), but the Nissan is totaled, and was bumped by a couple other cars. It’s a mess. There are accidents ahead of us, behind us, and then it came over the radio that I-75 is closed at mile 136, before Jellico Mountain. We aren’t going anywhere.
Good thing we just refueled at Crazy Ed’s truckstop in Sweetwater. And stopped in Atlanta to pick up some fresh produce. With five pounds of strawberries, ten pounds of oranges, and five pounds of carrots, we’ll survive the night in the truck’s sleeper. And, we have the computer and internet for entertainment. As if watching the pinball game of traffic isn’t enough.
Uhoh. A semi ahead of us in the right lane just tried to pull out into the (slow moving) left lane. His trailer slid downhill and bounced off two parked cars, damaging both. Note: when the cops drive by and announce over the bullhorn, “STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE, DO NOT MOVE” you should listen to them. And, now a police car is stuck, and another cop just hit somebody ten cars ahead. Reportedly there are over 200 wrecks within five miles.
I’m so glad we’re both ok, and so far there are no serious injuries to anyone around us. I’ve never been in a roadblock such as this, and I’m so thankful I don’t have a horse trailer behind me. We’re lucky no one’s hurt (that I know of) and this is a big warning to anyone driving in winter weather: BE CAREFUL!
*** Update: at 11:05pm, we are moving. I don’t know how long, or how far, but we are northbound again, cautiously. The roads are clear and the salt trucks got through. Jellico still may be closed…we will find out and pull over when the time comes.
*** Update 2: 11:48pm, Jellico is open and salted. State police came on radio and said it is safe, just go carefully. Many cars and trucks have pulled over at exits to wait for morning (can’t blame them) but we are gently moving on with very little traffic around us. Reports from southbound confirm the mountain is okay and roads are fine. Good night EN, see you in the morning!
