Originally Published on October 2, 2013

At least eight people were killed and 14 more injured on Wednesday in a three vehicle crash in eastern Tennessee that included a bus, a tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle, according to a report by the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The 2pm wreck happened when the bus, which was carrying a church group blew its left front tire while on an interstate in Jefferson County, roughly 30 miles east of Knoxville.

It crossed over the median and the cable barriers dividing the highway and clipped an oncoming sport-utility vehicle, before continuing on to collide with a tractor trailer.

The tractor trailer immediately burst into flames. The bus was overturned, lying on its side lyings across both lanes of traffic, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Authorities have yet to determine what caused the bus tire to blow out.

The bus was carrying passengers from the Front Street Baptist Church on their way home to North Carolina. Eighteen people are believed to have been on the bus.

"We're all shaken," member of the church George Stadfeld told the Associated Press. "As bad as it is, they're all Christians and I know where they're at. I'll join them later."

The names of the victims have yet to be released. Eight of those injured are listed in critical condition and are being treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, according to Reuters.

"This is an extremely horrific event," Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Bill Miller told reporters.