Marshall County Dispatch at 1:25 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 received a report of a two vehicle collision on Interstate 24 near the 21-mile marker. Upon the arrival of deputies and other first responders, the Kentucky State Police were called to conduct the investigation.
Preliminary investigation has shown Lindy W. Duhon, 62, of Erath, La., was driving a 2016 Kenworth tractor trailer westbound on Interstate 24 near the 21-mile marker when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle dropped off the left shoulder. Duhon then steered the tractor trailer back onto the roadway, where it turned onto its side and slid to a stop across both lanes of westbound traffic. Shortly thereafter, a 2017 Kenworth tractor trailer being driven westbound by JB Burrell Jr., 63, of Hendersonville, N.C., struck the first tractor trailer.
Burrell was airlifted to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., for treatment of life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the second tractor trailer, Marie S. Burrell, 70, of Hendersonville, N.C., was transported by ambulance to Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Marie Burrell was later flown to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The Kentucky State Police were assisted by Marshall County Sheriff Department, Calvert City Police Department, Marshall County Rescue Squad, Calvert City Fire Department, Palma-Briensburg Fire Department, Gilbertsville Fire Department, Possom Trot Sharpe Fire Department, Marshall County Ambulance, Air Evac, Marshall County Office of Emergency Management, and the State Highway Department.
Westbound lane of I-24 were closed until about 3 p.m. for removal of debris.
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UPDATE: 1:23 p.m. I-24 Blockage at 22mm Westbound in MARSHALL County. The blockage on I-24 WESTBOUND has been extended to at least 3 p.m.
WESTBOUND traffic on I-24 remains blocked at the site of a double SEMI Crash at the 22 mile marker and traffic is snarled throughout the Calvert City area as motorists see a detour around the blockage.
The incident commander on site now indicates it will be at least 3 p.m. before the site is cleared.
For those SEEKING an ALTERNATE ROUTE
If you are EAST of Calvert City on I-24 Westbound seeking to get to Paducah consider taking KY 453 north from EXIT 31 to KY 937, then head west on US 60 to Paducah.
If you are EAST of Calvert City on US 62 Westbound seeking to get to Paducah consider taking US 641 South at Kentucky Dam to DRAFFENVILLE, then head west on US 68 to Paducah.
These two highways are about the only routes with traffic moving freely at this time.
Again, I-24 WESTBOUND is expected to be blocked for at least another 2 hours.
UPDATE: 11:55 a.m. the westbound blockage at a crash site on I-24 westbound at about the 22mm is expected to be in place until about 1 p.m., CDT, today. I-24 WESTBOUND traffic remains detoured along US 62 from I-24 Calvert City Exit 27 to Exit 16 in Reidland. Caution is required due to congestion along the detour.
ORIGINAL STORY: Interstate 24 West is closed down at the 22-mile marker, after Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials say two semis were involved in a collision about 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 near Calvert City.
Marshall County, state emergency response and personnel remained on scene as of 8 a.m., removing debris from the roadway. Marshall County Emergency Management Director Curt Curtner said preliminary investigation showed that the driver of one semi had slipped into the median and overcorrected. The semi flipped on its side as it came back into the road and was struck by a second semi.
Curtner said one driver was airlifted to Nashville from the scene but was in stable condition.
No further details were available as of 8 a.m. Kentucky State Police are investigation the collision.
A detour has been established via I-24 Calvert City Exit 27 to US 62 Westbound.
Additional details will be released as they become available.