MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—A tragic accident occurred this past week on Thursday, October 17, 2024, when a Chevrolet Express van crashed on Interstate 24, resulting in five fatalities and three injuries. The Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) responded to the scene, where they found several occupants trapped in the overturned vehicle. Despite the rescue efforts, five individuals lost their lives, while three others survived and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) reported that the van, traveling through Rutherford County, veered off the road around 1:00 AM. The driver, 21-year-old Pham Tan Hoang from Georgia, lost control of the vehicle, sending it up an embankment and crashing into the Highway 96 (Franklin Road) bridge. After impact, the van rolled back down the embankment, coming to rest behind a guardrail under the overpass.

Hoang and four passengers—all Georgia residents—were killed in the wreck. The deceased were identified as 27-year-old Alaniz Baido, 65-year-old William Bolia, 57-year-old Pham Hung Van, and 29-year-old Kong Adam Bebe. MFRD firefighters worked to extricate the survivors and victims from the crushed van in a painstaking rescue operation. The THP report showed that it was unknown if the driver and all of the passengers in the van were wearing seatbelts. 

Interstate 24 was closed temporarily as Murfreesboro Police assisted with the incident, managing traffic and securing the scene. The section of the interstate remained blocked while emergency responders completed their work.

It has been confirmed that no charges are being considered in the wreck and it looks as if the van was the only vehicle involved in the deadly mishap.