Video Shows Cars Piled Up in Major Gatlinburg Accident—Several Hospitalized

A scenic Sunday in one of the nation’s most visited mountain towns turned chaotic when a multi-car collision in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, left six people hospitalized and led to fears of fatalities.

Why It Matters

Parkway, a hub of tourist activity lined with arcades, food outlets, and souvenir shops—and the main passage to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—was partially shut down for hours as emergency crews responded.

Gatlinburg has seen other high-traffic incidents before, especially during peak tourist seasons, when congestion on the Parkway can slow travel to a crawl.

Each year, the town draws more than 12 million visitors, making it one of the busiest gateways to any national park in the country.

What To Know

The crash happened just after 4 p.m. along the town’s main drag, the 700 block of Parkway—an area often thick with tourists coming in and out of the national park.

Videos captured by bystanders and later posted to social media showed a tangled pile of heavily damaged vehicles, with car parts scattered and first responders rushing between them.

City officials confirmed that three people were flown by Lifestar helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, while three others were taken by ambulance. Five vehicles were involved, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol has joined the Gatlinburg Police Department in investigating the crash.

The crash occurred at approximately 4:14 p.m., according to officials. Emergency crews from multiple agencies, including the Gatlinburg Police Department, Fire Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol, responded to the scene. Parkway remained closed for hours, with roadblocks still in place into the early evening, severely disrupting downtown traffic.

While the injured have not been publicly identified and their current condition remain unknown, the crash has sparked concern beyond East Tennessee.

What Happens Next

The City of Gatlinburg has not confirmed any deaths or provided details on the cause, stressing that the investigation is ongoing.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.