Driver killed after truck pushed over bridge on EB I-275 in NKY
CAMPBELL COUNTY, Ky. (WXIX) - The Wilder Police Department has released the first details on Tuesday’s deadly Interstate 275 crash.
A few minutes after 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, police say vehicles were slowing down due to heavy traffic on eastbound I-275 near the AA Highway ramp.
A collision occurred between multiple vehicles as drivers were switching lanes over the Licking River bridge, police explained.
Melanie Owen says she was heading home Tuesday when she saw vehicles start to merge into her lane.
“I luckily was able to get over, but there was no way for any more cars to get over because it was congested,” Owen recalls.
A semi involved in the collision overturned and slid on its side.
“There was nowhere for the tractor-trailer to go and [it] started hitting the cars and when he hit the cars, he went sideways,” Owen explained.
One of the vehicles, a pickup truck, was pushed off the bridge and landed in the wooded area beneath the bridge, according to Wilder police.
“It just hit the vehicle and it went flying airborne into the air,” said Owen. “It was terrifying.”
The driver of the truck died at the scene, police announced Wednesday. The driver, who has not been identified, was the only person inside the truck.
Four other people were taken to the hospital. Police said they are expected to be ok.
“Debris all over the road and the people were out of their cars and they were just looking at each other like they had just survived a battle, and you know, like they cheated death,” recalled another witness, Ryan Rowley. “It was that crazy. You could see it in their faces.”
Wilder police say they continue to investigate Tuesday’s crash.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet was out early Wednesday to inspect the bridge.
KYTC says repairs, including forming and repouring a small section of the wall and then replacing the railing, are needed.
Repairs start Wednesday and are scheduled to continue through Nov. 8, according to KYTC.
While crews work on the repairs, KYTC says a single lane and shoulder closure on I-275 eastbound will remain in place until Thursday.
A concrete barrier will be placed along the work zone to protect the wall during the curing process, KYTC explained.
Once the barrier is installed, the single right lane closure will be removed, but a temporary 24/7 shoulder closure will be in place, they said.
KYTC says crews anticipate another single right lane closure early next week to install railing, finish wall repairs, and remove the concrete barrier.
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