BRISTOL, Sullivan County, Tenn., Oct. 5, 2026 — One person died, and another was injured in a crash on Interstate 81 southbound in Bristol, TN, on Sunday night, October 4, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 10 p.m. near mile marker 73, troopers said. A Subaru traveling south reportedly ran off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail, crossed both southbound lanes, and hit a cable barrier near the inside lane before overturning, according to the THP crash report.
While the Subaru was on its side in the roadway, a southbound Dodge struck it, the report said. Both vehicles came to rest off their original path after the impact.
The driver of the Subaru, identified by the THP as Myra Mullins, 55, of Virginia, was pronounced dead as a result of the crash. The driver of the Dodge was reported injured; the extent of those injuries has not been released. The crash remains under investigation.
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.
Why Overturn Crashes Happen Where Highways Narrow or Shift Lanes
Rollover crashes on interstates often start with a small loss of control that becomes unrecoverable. A vehicle drifts onto the shoulder, a driver overcorrects, and the car's momentum carries it across multiple lanes before a barrier or guardrail abruptly changes its path. That sideways energy, rather than straight-line speed alone, is often what tips a vehicle onto its side or roof.
Cable barriers and guardrails are designed to keep vehicles out of oncoming lanes or off medians, but contact with them can also redirect a vehicle in unpredictable ways. A car that overturns in a travel lane becomes a stationary hazard for traffic still moving at highway speed, which is how a single-vehicle crash can turn into a multi-vehicle one within seconds.
Nighttime hours add another layer of risk. Visibility drops, fatigue sets in, and following vehicles have less time to react to an obstacle already in the roadway. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 23,959 passenger-vehicle occupants were killed in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I witness or am involved in a crash like this?
Move to a safe location if possible, call 911, and avoid approaching an overturned vehicle unless trained to do so, since shifting wreckage can pose added danger.
How do weather and road conditions factor into rollover crashes?
Wet pavement, debris, or uneven shoulders can all contribute to a vehicle losing traction, though investigators typically need time to determine what role, if any, conditions played in a specific crash.
Where do these crashes tend to cluster?
Interstate rollovers often occur near mile markers with curves, narrow shoulders, or barrier transitions, where a minor steering correction has less room to be absorbed safely.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Bristol, Tennessee
Anyone involved in a highway crash should seek medical evaluation promptly, even if injuries aren't immediately obvious, since adrenaline can mask pain from impact. Keep a copy of the official crash report once it's available, and follow up with your insurer with accurate, factual information.
If you witnessed the crash or were nearby, cooperating with investigators and providing a clear statement helps establish what happened. Family members of those involved are encouraged to stay in contact with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for updates as the investigation continues.
