I-75 fully reopened after crashes in multiple counties caused hours of gridlock Friday morning

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - People who use I-75 to commute to Lexington for school or work faced a rough start to their Friday morning after crashes in three counties shut down lanes for hours.

Lexington police say officers responded to an injury collision between a box truck and a semi-truck around 3:50 a.m. Friday on I-75 north at exit 104. The box truck overturned and the driver was entrapped. The Lexington Fire Department rescued the driver, who was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash also resulted in a fuel spill.

Traffic was diverted to exit 99 while crews worked to clean up the spill. All lanes have since reopened.

Separately, southbound lanes of I-75 in Scott County were also shut down Friday due to a crash, with traffic diverted at exit 129 at Cherry Blossom Way. Those lanes have since reopened as well.

Ripple effect in Madison County

The traffic backup had a ripple effect in Madison County. Public Information Officer Jennifer Kermeen with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to two separate crashes on I-75 caused by the backup. She said those crashes cleared, but deputies worked to control the resulting congestion.

“People that are wanting to get off and out of this traffic are getting off onto roads that are just as congested as the interstate,” Kermeen said.

Commuters stuck for miles

The Casey’s gas station off Exit 97 became a gathering point Friday morning. It offered many drivers a chance to stretch their legs and use the bathroom, and a temporary office for others unsure how long it would take to travel just a couple of miles.

Richmond resident Kelly Thacker was trying to get to work in Lexington when she got caught in the backup.

“I saw 18 minutes stuck in traffic and I was like ‘what?’ because I didn’t see it when I actually got on the ramp until I was already in it,” Thacker said. “I was stuck there for 40 minutes just going from exit 95 to 97.”

Thacker planned to head northeast toward Winchester in hopes of making it to work on Friday.