Overturned Semi Shuts Down Part Of Western Kentucky Parkway For Most Of The Day
By: Casie Mason
Updated: February 24, 2013
An overturned semi shuts down the Western Kentucky Parkway for several hours today sending hundreds of drivers on a detour. A twenty mile stretch of road between Central City and Beaver Dam was closed most of the day after a semi lost control. Distracted driving may have played a role in the crash. Ohio County deputies say they received numerous calls around ten this morning about an over turned semi blocking all four lanes of traffic. Though no injuries or other vehicles were involved, the closed off Parkway caused quite a few headaches for many in that area.
This stretch of the Western Kentucky Parkway is normally busy and filled with cars on Sunday afternoon, but today it was bare after an accident made the highway impassable. "Thank goodness nobody was hurt. The driver was able to get out with the help of by standards and everything," says Ohio County Deputy Chris Matthews. He says today's wreck is considered another case of distracted driving. "He was driving West bound, he looked down at his GPS, and when he looked back up the tractor trailer was veering over in the median." The semi driver was on his way to Arkansas when he lost control of his big rig. He walked away from this scene with out a scratch, but a little shook up. "He was extremely thankful he wasn't hurt," says Matthews.
No one was hurt today but the extensive clean up caused a headache for one family. "We left at five o'clock this morning and we probably wont get home until ten o'clock tonight," says Amber Mullins. She and her family traveled from Missouri to Kentucky to buy her son a new car, but they got more than they bargained for with a new car, and some extra time on the road. "Probably so. We will be stuck in the vehicle little longer. Hope we get there safely without anymore pulling off the road," says Mullins.
Deputy Matthews says if you do have to use a GPS device, have it placed in a windshield or area that will not take your eyes completely off the road.
This stretch of the Western Kentucky Parkway is normally busy and filled with cars on Sunday afternoon, but today it was bare after an accident made the highway impassable. "Thank goodness nobody was hurt. The driver was able to get out with the help of by standards and everything," says Ohio County Deputy Chris Matthews. He says today's wreck is considered another case of distracted driving. "He was driving West bound, he looked down at his GPS, and when he looked back up the tractor trailer was veering over in the median." The semi driver was on his way to Arkansas when he lost control of his big rig. He walked away from this scene with out a scratch, but a little shook up. "He was extremely thankful he wasn't hurt," says Matthews.
No one was hurt today but the extensive clean up caused a headache for one family. "We left at five o'clock this morning and we probably wont get home until ten o'clock tonight," says Amber Mullins. She and her family traveled from Missouri to Kentucky to buy her son a new car, but they got more than they bargained for with a new car, and some extra time on the road. "Probably so. We will be stuck in the vehicle little longer. Hope we get there safely without anymore pulling off the road," says Mullins.
Deputy Matthews says if you do have to use a GPS device, have it placed in a windshield or area that will not take your eyes completely off the road.
