Quick facts
LEX18 reported that I-75 southbound near the Clays Ferry Bridge was shut down Monday morning after a jackknifed semi, and the roadway was later back open. The report said the interstate was closed southbound at Exit 104 because vehicles were sliding into the scene. (LEX 18 News – Lexington, KY (WLEX))
Public reporting did not identify the truck’s carrier, USDOT number, or whether any injuries occurred.
Why this crash is worth watching
The Clays Ferry Bridge area is a well-known I-75 chokepoint for central Kentucky traffic. When conditions are icy, a single jackknifed semi can create a high-risk chain reaction: stopped traffic, limited sight distance, and secondary crashes from vehicles sliding into backups.
What investigators typically look at in a jackknife event
A jackknife can happen for many reasons, and early traffic reports rarely include all the details. In commercial truck cases, the fact questions often include:
- Roadway conditions (ice/black ice), speed and braking behavior
- Following distance and reaction time in a traffic queue
- Tire condition, brake performance, and prior inspections
- Whether cargo weight or load balance contributed (if applicable)
- The timing and placement of warning triangles/alerts after the truck stopped (when required)
Who may be liable
With only the traffic update available, fault cannot be determined from public reporting alone. Depending on what an investigation finds, potential responsible parties could include:
- The truck driver
- The motor carrier/employer (once identified)
- A maintenance provider (if tires, brakes, or steering issues contributed)
- A shipper/loader (if load securement or cargo shift played a role)
- Other drivers (in secondary collisions), depending on the chain of events
Evidence that matters most after a semi crash and highway shutdown
If someone was involved in a secondary collision, hit debris, or suffered damage in the backup, these items often matter:
- Dash-cam video (yours or witnesses)
- Photos of roadway conditions, signage, and the traffic queue
- 911/CAD logs and incident timelines
- Tow/recovery information (where the truck was taken and when)
- Commercial vehicle data that may exist (telematics/ECM/dash-cam), if preserved
What to do if you were affected by the crash or the backup
- Get medical care first if you were injured—then document symptoms and follow-ups.
- Save dash-cam footage immediately (many systems overwrite quickly).
- Write down where you were stopped, the time window, and what you observed (weather, sliding vehicles, visibility).
- Keep receipts for towing, rentals, repairs, and missed work.
How Morrin Law Office helps after a commercial truck crash
Commercial truck crashes can involve different evidence and insurance layers than typical car wrecks. Morrin Law Office helps by:
- Acting quickly to request preservation of key commercial evidence (like dash-cam, telematics/ECM, maintenance, and dispatch records), when available
- Identifying the correct carrier and insurer when those details aren’t public
- Explaining Kentucky next steps clearly and building an evidence-focused plan
To reach Morrin Law Office, call (859) 358-0300 or visit our website.
What we still don’t know (from public reporting)
- The carrier name and USDOT number
- Whether injuries were reported
- The specific cause of the jackknife (ice alone vs. mechanical/load factors)
- Any citations or enforcement findings
Source
- LEX18 traffic update: jackknifed semi shut down I-75 southbound near Clays Ferry Bridge; closure at Exit 104 due to vehicles sliding into the scene. (LEX 18 News – Lexington, KY (WLEX))
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