At least 8 killed in fiery Tennessee bus crash

Credit: WATE

Credit: WATE

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Authorities say a tire on a church bus blew out and the bus hit a tractor-trailer and sport utility vehicle in northeastern Tennessee, killing eight people.

According to KnoxNews.com, at least 8 people have been killed in the crash that happened around 2 p.m. Eastern on I-40 near the Interstate 81 split.

According to WSOC-TV in Charlotte, the bus was from Front Street Baptist Church in Statesville, N.C. Pastor's wife Dionne Stutts told WSOC the bus was carrying senior adult church members.  They were on their way home from an event called the Fall Jubilee in Gatlinburg. Church pastors say they are on the way to the area.

The state Department of Safety and Homeland Security said the chartered bus crossed the median in Jefferson County about 2 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 40. The bus clipped an oncoming SUV and hit the tractor-trailer, which burst into flames. The bus, which was heading eastbound, overturned.

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson Dalya Qualls says eight people died in the crash: six were on the bus, one in the tractor-trailer, and one in an SUV. 14 people were injured.