KINGSPORT, Sullivan County, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2026 — Four emergency responders were hurt on Monday night, September 21, when a vehicle struck them as they worked a crash scene on Interstate 26. Two remained hospitalized as of the following morning, according to the Kingsport Fire Department.
The Kingsport Fire Department said crews were on I-26 westbound near Exit 6 around 10 p.m., handling an initial crash when a second crash happened behind the first. Firefighters and Sullivan County EMS personnel moved to the second scene to treat a patient there, the department said.
While responders were loading that patient into an ambulance, a vehicle traveling westbound hit three Kingsport firefighters and one Sullivan County EMS EMT, the fire department reported. All four were taken to a hospital.
Two of the four have since been released, the department said. The remaining two were still hospitalized Tuesday morning with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has been asked for additional details on the crash, and the investigation remains open.
The fire department said it is thankful the injuries were not worse and asked drivers to slow down and move over for emergency crews working along roadways.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
A Common Misconception About Roadside Crash Response
Many drivers assume that flashing lights and cones give emergency crews a wide enough buffer to work safely, and that a second crash at the same scene is a rare fluke. The numbers on how often crashes happen at all suggest otherwise: with millions of collisions on U.S. roads every year, the odds that traffic keeps moving through an active scene are higher than most drivers realize.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 6,138,359 police-reported traffic crashes occurred in 2023. That volume means responders are rarely working in isolation. A single incident can draw fire, EMS, and law enforcement to a live travel lane at almost any hour, and a second collision at the same location is not unusual; it is a recognized hazard of the job.
The assumption that "move over" laws alone keep responders safe does not hold up against how often secondary crashes are reported nationwide. Distance, speed, and driver attention at the scene matter as much as the law on the books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is distracted driving especially risky near a crash scene?
A driver glancing at a phone or rubbernecking loses critical seconds of reaction time right where people are standing outside their vehicles. Near an active crash, that split-second delay can turn a minor lapse into a second collision.
How do weather and road conditions factor into crashes like this?
Rain, glare, low light, and reduced visibility all cut down the time a driver has to notice flashing lights and slow down. At night, on a highway shoulder, these conditions make it harder to spot personnel working close to traffic.
What should someone do immediately after a car accident?
Move to a safe location if possible, call 911, and wait for police or emergency crews before assessing damage or exchanging information. Follow any instructions from responders on scene, and stay alert to moving traffic even after the immediate danger seems to have passed.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Kingsport, TN
If you are involved in or witness a crash in Kingsport, the first step is always safety: get out of the flow of traffic if you're able, and call for help right away. Even injuries that seem minor at first, like soreness or a headache, are worth having checked by a medical professional, since some symptoms can take hours or days to appear.
Cooperate with responding officers and give an accurate account of what you saw or experienced. Keep any paperwork from the scene, including a police report number, and follow up with your own doctor if symptoms develop later. For those working roadside, including firefighters, EMTs, and tow crews, the safest move for everyone else is simple: slow down, give them room, and stay alert until you've fully cleared the scene.
