LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Interstate 64 East reopened after being closed for 19 hours following a multi-vehicle crash near the Cochran Hill Tunnels on Wednesday morning. 

Louisville Metro Police said its Traffic Unit reopened I-64 East around 1 a.m. Thursday.

Louisville Fire and police initially responded to the crash around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. The crash shut down both the eastbound and westbound lanes. The westbound lanes reopened around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Officials said the crash involved five vehicles, including two semi-trucks, a garbage truck and two passenger vehicles. Officials said one of the semi-truck drivers died at the scene. 

The drivers of the passenger vehicles and the garbage truck were taken to nearby hospitals with what police said were non-life threatening injuries.

LMPD's Traffic Unit is handling the investigation into the crash.

It took hours for crews to clean up the wreckage from the fiery crash. It was particularly difficult for firefighters because of where the crash happened as there aren't any emergency lanes in the Cochran Hill Tunnels.

It was particularly difficult for firefighters because of where the crash happened as there aren't any emergency lanes in the Cochran Hill Tunnels.

"Tunnels have no emergency lanes, so we also end up trying to bring vehicles from the opposite direction, had to shut down that section of the interstate as well, so they could safely operate," Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O'Neill said. 

About 30 firefighters were on the scene. Crews were able to get the fire under control in less than an hour, but they had to think outside the box to get enough water on the burning vehicles.

"Anyone who has gone through that east tunnel, there is a bit of an overpass there. The road underneath is Beale Branch, so we were able to get companies down on that road to bring water supply from there up to the interstate to make sure we have enough water to fight the fire," said O'Neill.

The extreme cold also posed big problems. The water froze so quickly, O'Neill said they were handling the emergency on an ice skating rink. Heavy equipment had to be brought in to remove the debris and heavily-charred trucks. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said there is some damage to the asphalt, which will be fixed when the weather warms up. 

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

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