(RUTHERFORD / WILSON COUNTY, TN) WGNS has new information on a serious auto accident that occurred this past week on I-840 between Murfreesboro and Lebanon, Tennessee. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), two eastbound vehicles collided, resulting in one fatality and another person injured.
The crash happened Tuesday, December 2, 2025, when 77-year-old John “Frank” Spickler, a U.S. Army veteran who served with the Air Assault, 1st of the 8th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division, was driving from the direction of Murfreesboro towards Wilson County. As traffic slowed, a tractor-trailer truck in front of him reduced his speed to a crawl. Spickler’s 2013 Nissan Frontier struck the rear of the truck.
A THP report obtained by WGNS confirms that Spickler collided with a Volvo tractor-trailer operated by a 43-year-old Tennessee man. The impact was severe, killing Spickler and injuring the driver of the semi. Investigators noted that Spickler was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, while the truck driver was restrained.
Spickler, a resident of Sumner County, served in the U.S. Army for six years and was actively involved in the 1968 Tet Offensive during his second tour in Vietnam. The Tet Offensive included a series of coordinated surprise attacks carried out by the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. Despite the initial shock, American and South Vietnamese forces repelled the attacks and inflicted heavy losses, marking a major turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of a gradual U.S. withdrawal.
Born in West Virginia, Spickler later returned to the United States and completed his service as a drill sergeant in the 3rd Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Due to injuries sustained during the Tet Offensive, he was removed from jump status. After leaving the military, he began a long career with Nashville Electric Service, retiring after 42 years as a respected field supervisor.
The fatal crash occurred near the Highway 109 and Highway 265 interchange in Wilson County, just a few miles from the Rutherford County line. The December 2, 2025 wreck closed portions of I-840 for several hours as authorities investigated and cleared the scene.
Funeral services for Mr. Spickler were held earlier this week. He was laid to rest Tuesday, December 9, at Beech Cemetery in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife, Sheila Spickler, of 58 years, as well as his children and grandchildren (See Obituary).
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, nearly 50,000 motorists travel past the 73rd mile marker on I-840 each day. Traffic volume on that section of interstate—both commercial and passenger—has increased by approximately 29 percent over the past five years.
