NKY highways back open after Thursday morning crashes

FORT MITCHELL, KY. (FOX19) - The commute was an absolute nightmare across the Tri-State Thursday as heavy rain fell almost as fast as accidents were reported.

Two highways in Northern Kentucky were shut down all morning.

Southbound Interstate 71/75 was closed at Kyles Lane since 4 a.m. due to a crash involving two jackknifed semi tractor-trailers, Fort Mitchell police said. It reopened around noon.

A large amount of fuel spilled from one of the semis, which also hit a median wall, knocking debris into the northbound lanes. Crews were required to remove light posts, which added to the delays.

Further south in Kentucky, southbound I-71 is closed in Gallatin County at the Verona exit.

A semi crashed and caught on fire about 3 a.m., and then subsequent crashes occurred, resulting in a total of two jackknifed semis and a chemical spill, a county dispatch supervisor said.

The highway will be closed until at least 12:30 p.m. while crews clean up, she said.

Joseph Stitt of Pennsylvania was stuck on the highway for more than four hours, delaying his trip to Louisville.

Finally, just before 9:30 a.m., he said a Gallatin County deputy sheriff began directing cars around the crash scene and onto the Verona exit.

“The longer it was, the more frustrating it go,” he said.

Nancy Wood, a spokeswoman with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said emergency responders are waiting for the proper environmental clean-up service to clean up the road way.

“The spilled chemical is an ice-like film on the roadway,” she said. “The clean-up service is coming from Louisville.”

The road reopened around 5:30 p.m.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until Friday morning with more than 3 inches of rain expected.

Here’s your latest forecast

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until Friday morning with more than 3 inches of rain expected.

Here’s your latest forecast

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