NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A fiery multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 440 East Saturday night left one man critically injured and caused the closure of the highway for several hours.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. when a BMW motorcycle, operated by a 24-year-old Nashville man, collided with the rear of an Acura sedan traveling eastbound. After the initial impact, the motorcycle slid to a stop on the left shoulder of the interstate.
Following the collision with the BMW motorcycle, the Acura reportedly swerved and struck a Kawasaki motorcycle driven by a 54-year-old Nashville man. The sedan then spun out of control and collided with a wall on the left side of the highway, coming to rest near the Kawasaki motorcycle.
Authorities confirmed that two additional motorcyclists—a 24-year-old Portland man riding a Honda and a 43-year-old Thompson’s Station man on another BMW motorcycle—were also involved in the crash. All three motorcycles caught fire as a result of the collision.
Emergency responders transported all four motorcyclists and the Acura driver to area hospitals. The Nashville man on the first BMW motorcycle remains in critical condition. The other motorcyclists sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and the Acura driver was treated for minor injuries.
Police are currently reviewing GoPro camera footage recovered from the scene as part of their investigation. Officials said preliminary findings suggest the crash was caused by improper following by the motorcyclist who is critically injured.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine all contributing factors.