(RUTHERFORD COUNTY) One person is dead, one injured and one walked away after a two vehicle crash shortly after 6:00 o’clock Friday night (1/26/2024) on I-24 near I-840 (mile marker 72).

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 49-year-old Diego Gomez was traveling east (toward Chattanooga) on I-24 in a 2004 Honda Civic. The report indicates that the Honda went off the roadway, the driver overcorrected and swerved back onto the interstate. The big rig then hit the compact car. Both vehicles stopped in the median.

In addition to Gomez being pronounced deceased at the scene, 23-year old Salvador Lopez Orellana, a passenger in the car, was injured.

The truck driver, 43-year old Moctezuma de Jesus, walked away without injuries.

The interstate had to be shut-down in both directions while evidence was gathered and interviews with witnesses were secured, along with cleaning debris from the roadway. All lanes were open and back to normal around 10:00PM Friday night.