A chaotic multi-vehicle wreck shook downtown Gatlinburg on Sunday afternoon, leaving one person dead and six others injured in the heart of the busy tourist district. The crash unfolded around:15 p.m. in the 700 block of Parkway, a stretch packed with visitors enjoying shops and restaurants near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Authorities say the incident began when the driver of a minivan suffered a medical emergency—reportedly a seizure—causing the vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly. The minivan struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk before colliding with multiple cars. One of the impacted vehicles then hit a roadside sign, which toppled and injured another pedestrian.
Three of the injured were airlifted in serious condition to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, while three others were transported by ambulance to local hospitals. The identities of those involved have not yet been released.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Gatlinburg Police closed off a section of Parkway for several hours as they investigated the scene and cleared debris. Officials are continuing to investigate, but early findings point to the driver’s medical episode as the cause of the crash.
