A Kentucky highway will be closed until 4:00 pm today while crews work to clean up the wreckage, following a fiery 2-semi truck crash.
The crash occurred on Monday, December 7, at approximately 10:45 pm on KY 286 in Ballard County, Kentucky.
According to KFVS, Kentucky State Police Post 1 received numerous calls regarding a 2-truck crash that occurred on KY 286 at the 7.1 mile post.
KSP said the crash occurred when Steven R. Smith, 41, was headed west on KY 286 in a 2016 Freightliner, he left the right shoulder of the road. Smith then overcorrected and crossed into the oncoming lane and overturned, blocking both the westbound and eastbound lanes.
Moments later, a 2021 Peterbilt driven by Tirell T. Crear, 24, was driving in the eastbound lanes and crashed into the overturned Freightliner, driven by Smith.
Following the collision, Crear’s truck went off of the road and caught fire. Crear was able to escape his burning vehicle; however, he sustained severe burns and was airlifted to a hospital.
Drivers are advised to use U.S. 60 between Wickliffe and Paducah as an alternate route.