Officials say that a crash between a car and a fuel tanker on the southbound lanes of Interstate-471 led to a massive fire and explosion Friday night in Newport.According to first responders, three people were later taken to the hospital from the scene for minor injuries.Traffic was closed on I-471 for nearly 20 hours as crews worked to quickly clean and repave the highway. All lanes eventually reopened as normal on Saturday evening.Crash causes fire, explosionThe crash happened around 10:10 p.m. Friday, near the Memorial Parkway exit when a car crashed into an fuel tanker, causing a massive fire and explosion.Officials said the fuel tanker overturned on its side. The fuel then ignited and flames quickly engulfed the area, leading to a massive response from emergency crews. According to a statement from the city of Newport, two children, aged 6 and 12, were transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with minor injuries. An adult woman who was in the car was also taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.The driver of the tanker, a 47-year-old man, was treated at the scene and released. No other injuries were reported.Witnesses describe fire, explosionWitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with explosions heard and seen. “I heard an explosion. Some people say they heard five. I heard way more than that. I mean, I could see explosions happening. Big plumes of just ash going straight up in the air,” said Jacob Adams, a witness. Another witness added, “I got so close. I could feel the heat from it.”Highway reopensInterstate-471 remained closed throughout much of Saturday as crews worked to clean up the area.Going northbound, I-471 is closed between Alexandra Pike/US-27 through Memorial Parkway. Going southbound it’s closed between Exit 5 (Newport Bellevue) through Grand Avenue.In an update posted on Saturday afternoon, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said that it had already begun efforts to repave the highway and that crews hoped to reopen I-471 to traffic by the end of the day on Saturday.Engineers say that an overpass located near the scene of the fire was also found to have sustained some damage to its paint, but did not display any signs of further structural damage.Officials said that the flames also traveled through the highway drainage system and into the sewer below as fuel spilled from the truck, but that no significant damage was found to the sewer underneath the highway.According to KYTC, the repairs from today on the pavement are meant to be temporary, and that construction workers will return to do a full resurfacing at a later date this spring. Additional repairs on the barrier wall separating the north and southbound lanes would also be required. “We want to thank everyone for their patience as we make these needed repairs,” KYTC said in a statement. “We know shutting down an interstate isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun time, but it’s necessary to keep our crews and folks like you… safe.”At 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, KYTC said that both the lanes of I-471 and the nearby overpass had begun to reopen to traffic.
Officials say that a crash between a car and a fuel tanker on the southbound lanes of Interstate-471 led to a massive fire and explosion Friday night in Newport.
According to first responders, three people were later taken to the hospital from the scene for minor injuries.
Traffic was closed on I-471 for nearly 20 hours as crews worked to quickly clean and repave the highway. All lanes eventually reopened as normal on Saturday evening.
Crash causes fire, explosion
The crash happened around 10:10 p.m. Friday, near the Memorial Parkway exit when a car crashed into an fuel tanker, causing a massive fire and explosion.
Officials said the fuel tanker overturned on its side. The fuel then ignited and flames quickly engulfed the area, leading to a massive response from emergency crews.
According to a statement from the city of Newport, two children, aged 6 and 12, were transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with minor injuries. An adult woman who was in the car was also taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The driver of the tanker, a 47-year-old man, was treated at the scene and released. No other injuries were reported.
Witnesses describe fire, explosion
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with explosions heard and seen.
“I heard an explosion. Some people say they heard five. I heard way more than that. I mean, I could see explosions happening. Big plumes of just ash going straight up in the air,” said Jacob Adams, a witness.
Another witness added, “I got so close. I could feel the heat from it.”
Highway reopens
Interstate-471 remained closed throughout much of Saturday as crews worked to clean up the area.
Going northbound, I-471 is closed between Alexandra Pike/US-27 through Memorial Parkway. Going southbound it’s closed between Exit 5 (Newport Bellevue) through Grand Avenue.
In an update posted on Saturday afternoon, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said that it had already begun efforts to repave the highway and that crews hoped to reopen I-471 to traffic by the end of the day on Saturday.
This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Engineers say that an overpass located near the scene of the fire was also found to have sustained some damage to its paint, but did not display any signs of further structural damage.
Officials said that the flames also traveled through the highway drainage system and into the sewer below as fuel spilled from the truck, but that no significant damage was found to the sewer underneath the highway.
According to KYTC, the repairs from today on the pavement are meant to be temporary, and that construction workers will return to do a full resurfacing at a later date this spring. Additional repairs on the barrier wall separating the north and southbound lanes would also be required.
“We want to thank everyone for their patience as we make these needed repairs,” KYTC said in a statement. “We know shutting down an interstate isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun time, but it’s necessary to keep our crews and folks like you… safe.”
At 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, KYTC said that both the lanes of I-471 and the nearby overpass had begun to reopen to traffic.
