2 killed in Shelby County accident; I-64 west remains closed

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – Two people have died after separate wrecks involving six vehicles, including two semis, that has closed westbound Interstate 64 in Shelby County.

The accidents happened near mile marker 38 around 11:30 a.m. According to Major Jason Rice of the Shelby County Sheriffs' Office, the initial accident happened when a semi sideswiped a box truck. That semi and a third vehicle went into the median.

The second accident happened when a second semi hit two vehicles - a minivan and a company van - that had stopped on left shoulder. The drivers of those vehicles were going to check on those involved in the first accident and were killed when the second semi struck their vehicles from behind. A woman who remained in the minivan and was calling 911 for help about the initial accident was injured.

Shelby County officials expected I-64 west to remain closed until 8 p.m. at the earliest. Westbound I-64 traffic is being diverted at the Waddy/Peytona exit (exit 43), but traffic is reported to be backed up the U.S. 127 (exit 53) Frankfort entrance ramps.

Many drivers heading toward Shelbyville or Louisville are exiting at U.S. 127 and taking U.S. 60 west. U.S. 60 is also experiencing heavy delays due to the volume of traffic.

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