Update, 8 p.m.: The pile-up wreck involved four vehicles, and two people were injured, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol report obtained by Clarksville Now.

The wreck happened when traffic slowed abruptly and the vehicles smashed into one another in a series of rear-end crashes, the report said.

A tractor-trailer driven by a Nebraska man was traveling westbound on Interstate 24 in the right hand lane. Behind him was a 2007 Ford Ranger driven by Blayne Phipps, 29, of Fort Campbell. Behind him was a Nissan van driven by Laura-Lynne Patry-O’Leary, 52, of Clarksville. Behind her was a 2012 Dodge Ram driven by a Murfreesboro man.

When traffic slowed, the Dodge Ram hit the Nissan van, which hit the Ford Ranger, which hit the tractor-trailer, the THP report said.

Both Phipps and Patry-O’Leary were injured. Their conditions were not available Wednesday night.

Clarksville Police reported earlier that one person was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Nashville and was in stable condition.

Vehicles crashed at mile marker 3 on Interstate 24 on Oct. 20, 2021. (CPD, contributed)

Update, 5:40 p.m.: The interstate has been reopened.

There may be lingering traffic congestion for a while, including on secondary roads.

Update, 4:35 p.m.: With the approach of rush hour, westbound traffic is getting worse and is now backed up to mile marker 10, just short of Exit 11.

Commuters from Nashville should be advised that Exit 11 may soon be blocked.

The Interstate 24 wreck pictured from the Meriwether Road bridge looking east. (Scott Hollingsworth, contributed)

Update, 4:15 p.m.: The interstate blockage is causing traffic backups on several secondary roads, including Wilma Rudolph Boulevard in both directions from Needmore Road to I-24.

Traffic is also heavy on Trenton Road northbound.

Update, 3 p.m.: Traffic is backed up past Exit 8 to about mile marker 9.

Clarksville Now has reached out to Tennessee Highway Patrol for details about the wreck.

Vehicles crashed near the Exit 4 ramp of Interstate 24. (Amy Miles, contributed)

Update, 1:55 p.m.: Interstate 24 westbound is expected to be shut down until about 5 p.m. One person was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Nashville and is reported in stable condition.

Tennessee Highway Patrol CIRT team in on the way to the scene.

“CPD is once again asking the public to avoid the area and find alternate routes,” Beaubien said.

Update, 1:25 p.m.: Westbound traffic remains backed up past Exit 8.

Update, 11:45 a.m.: Interstate 24 westbound has been closed, according to CPD.

Traffic is backed up past Exit 8.

Previously:

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Several vehicles crashed on Interstate 24 westbound just past Exit 4 on Wednesday morning.

At about 10:40 a.m., Clarksville Police were helping Tennessee Highway Patrol with the crash at about mile marker 3, according to police spokesman Scott Beaubien.

Westbound traffic was reduced to one lane and is congested.

As of about 11:25, westbound traffic was at a standstill from mile marker 3 almost to Exit 8.

Eastbound traffic was clear.

This article will be updated.

To report accidents to the Clarksville Now traffic tips line, call 931-648-7720.