(WKYT) – Update 2 – One person is dead and another was hospitalized after a crash involving three tractor trailers and a car resulted in a fire on I-75 in Laurel County.
Several explosions occurred during the incident, creating a dangerous situation for first responders. The first priority for crews was containing the fire.
The crash occurred around 1 p.m. near the 33-mile marker and resulted in a vehicle fire and the shutdown of both directions of the interstate between Exits 29 and 38.
It is not yet clear what caused the crash. Something happened when the three trucks and a car hit one another, causing a large fire.
Trooper Lloyd Cochran, with Kentucky State Police, said one person was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One person was confirmed dead.
The crash happened not far from the northbound weigh station, where Kentucky vehicle enforcement works out of. Response to the scene was quick because of witnesses.
Due to the fire and the magnitude of the crash, officials feared the situation could have been worse. Cleanup from the scene was expected to be an extensive effort.
“As you can there’s a lot of debris that needs to be cleaned up. The remains of the commercial vehicles that were burned is still very hot. So, we won’t be able to remove them until they get cooled down a little bit,” Cochran said.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, all lanes on I-75 South are now open.
The left lane of I-75 North is open but the middle and right lanes are still blocked.
Update 1: Parts of I-75 in Laurel County have reopened following a fatal crash involving several commercial vehicles on Wednesday.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, all lanes on I-75 South are now open.
I-75 North remains blocked while accident reconstruction and cleanup operations continue.
The Kentucky State Police told WKYT’s crew on the scene that one person was killed in the crash.
Drivers are advised to expect significant delays and to use alternate routes if possible. They are also asked to use caution around emergency and road crews.
The crash occurred around 1 p.m. near the 33-mile marker and resulted in a vehicle fire and the shutdown of both directions of the interstate between Exits 29 and 38.
Original story
Multiple agencies are responding to a “serious” crash involving several commercial vehicles on I-75 that shut down the road and killed one person on Wednesday.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Steven Douglas confirms that the crash happened around 1 p.m. Wednesday near the 33 mile marker on I-75.
State police also said that one person was killed in the crash.
The Laurel County Fire Department reports that crews are on the scene of a commercial vehicle fire following the crash.
Trooper Corey Jones reports that I-75 shut down between Exit 29 and Exit 38 in Laurel County.
Both northbound and southbound traffic is being diverted off the interstate and onto US-25.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.