LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- All lanes of Interstate 64 East opened Thursday morning at the Cochran Hill Tunnel after a fiery fatal crash Wednesday caused it to close for nearly 20 hours.
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 lengthy closure was due in part to the difficulty crews had getting to the scene. Traffic in the area and the navigation through the Cochran Hill Tunnel — which doesn't have emergency lanes — caused delays.
The weather also posed a problem.
"With the water supply, anyone who has gone through that east tunnel, there is a bit of an overpass there. The road underneath is Beale Branch," O'Neill said. "So we were able to get companies down on that road to bring the water supply from there up to the interstate to make sure we have enough water to fight the fire."
The drivers of the two cars and the garbage truck were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive. The driver of the other semi was not hurt.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said crews found damage to the asphalt caused by excessive heat. KYTC is looking for a permanent solution to fix it when the weather improves.
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- I-64 East reopens Thursday morning after 19-hour closure due to fatal crash
- I-64 East remains closed more than 18 hours after fatal multi-vehicle crash Wednesday morning
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