What Happened (confirmed so far)
On Thursday, Oct 9, 2025, a serious multi-vehicle crash shut down all northbound lanes of I-65 near mile marker 117 by East 4th Street in Shepherdsville (Bullitt County). Officials said the scene involved multiple vehicles and a commercial truck and prompted extended lane closures while crews responded.
Shepherdsville Police told local media the incident began when a southbound semi struck the cable barrier, crossed into the northbound lanes, jackknifed, and partially overlapped another truck; several northbound vehicles were hit.
Early injury reports indicated multiple transports with non-life-threatening injuries (five people taken to local hospitals, per one outlet). Another outlet noted approximately seven vehicles, including a jackknifed semi; a later update specified an Amazon-branded semi was involved. (Branding does not, by itself, establish the operating motor carrier.)
We will update this post as authorities release carrier identity/USDOT, reconstruction findings, and any contributing-factor details.
Why This Crash Matters (Shepherdsville / I-65 Corridor)
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Queue awareness & crossover risk. Cable barriers are designed to prevent cross-median intrusions, but when struck at speed they can deform and fling debris; secondary strikes can occur as vehicles react to sudden slowdowns.
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Jackknife dynamics. When a tractor and trailer fold, they can sweep multiple lanes, creating multi-impact chains that raise both injury counts and property loss.
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Regional freight exposure. I-65 through Bullitt/Hardin/Jefferson counties is one of Kentucky’s busiest truck corridors; closures ripple through regional traffic and commerce.
What Injured Drivers & Passengers Should Do (Practical Steps)
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Get medical care first. Adrenaline masks symptoms; follow the treatment plan and keep all discharge papers.
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Document what you can (if safe): skid marks, debris field, barrier damage, lane positions, and the jackknife angle/final rest of the tractor-trailer.
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Capture identifiers: photo the tractor doors for carrier name + USDOT number, trailer ID and plate, and any unit numbers; note tow-company names. (If you can’t, these can often be obtained from the police report later.)
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Witnesses & agencies: get names/phones, and the Shepherdsville Police and/or KSP Post report number; note TRIMARC timestamp if visible in media updates.
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Preserve evidence: ask that dash-cam/phone videos be saved; your legal team can send preservation letters for ECM/EDR (black-box) data, ELD/HOS logs, driver-facing/road-facing video, and maintenance records.
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Be cautious with insurers: share basics only until you understand your rights; consider delaying recorded statements.
Liability Basics (General Information)
Because this is a commercial-vehicle incident with potential median barrier interaction and multi-vehicle impacts, investigators typically examine:
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Operating motor carrier & driver conduct: speed, following distance, distraction, fatigue (ELD/HOS), lane keeping, and pre-impact maneuvers (e.g., evasive braking).
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Vehicle condition: brakes, tires, and lighting; inspection/maintenance compliance.
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Crossover chain of events: whether the semi’s loss of control or barrier response created secondary collisions and how fault is apportioned among all drivers.
Kentucky follows comparative fault, which means each party can bear a percentage of responsibility based on the evidence. Branding on a trailer (e.g., “Amazon”) is not the same as the operating carrier that’s legally responsible; that is determined by the USDOT-marked motor carrier operating the tractor at the time.
Evidence & Records Checklist
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Police crash report and any reconstruction diagrams when available.
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ECM/EDR downloads (speed/brake/throttle) and ELD/HOS logs for the commercial vehicle.
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Dash-cam video (truck cab + any in-car cameras) and traffic/incident-camera stills.
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Maintenance & inspection files (brakes/tires/lighting).
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Carrier ID: photos of USDOT/MC numbers on tractor doors; trailer ID/plate.
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Medical documentation: ER records, imaging, referrals, work restrictions, receipts.
FAQs
Was the semi automatically at fault because it jackknifed?
Not automatically. Fault depends on the sequence—what caused the loss of control, barrier interaction, and secondary impacts—plus driver behavior and vehicle condition.
Does “Amazon semi” mean Amazon is the liable party?
Not necessarily. Liability typically follows the operating motor carrier displayed on the tractor (company name + USDOT) at the time of the crash.
How soon should I act to preserve evidence?
Immediately if possible. Video and digital logs overwrite quickly; preservation letters help ensure critical data isn’t lost.
How Morrin Law Office Helps
We represent Kentuckians after commercial-vehicle crashes on I-65 and across the Commonwealth. Our team moves quickly to preserve ELD/ECM and camera data, identify the operating motor carrier, and explain your options in plain English while you focus on recovery.
Contact Morrin Law Office
(859) 358-0300 • morrinlawoffice.com • 214 W Main St, Richmond, KY 40475
Serving clients statewide.
Sources
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WDRB: I-65 North near Shepherdsville reopens after serious crash; semi hit cable barrier, jackknifed into NB lanes; location near MM 117 / East 4th St.
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WHAS11: Crash involving ~7 vehicles; five people transported with non-life-threatening injuries; MM 117/East 4th St.; closures described.
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WLKY: Large crash in Bullitt County; seven vehicles; Amazon-branded semi jackknifed; lanes blocked then reopened.
Disclaimer
This post summarizes public reporting and general Kentucky law. It is not legal advice and not a solicitation. Do not contact crash victims or families based on this post. Facts can change as officials release more information; we will update this page when reliable updates become publicly available.
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