UPDATE
McCracken County 911 Dispatch reports both westbound lanes of I-24 are now OPEN
between Calvert City Exit 25 and Paducah Exit 7.
Traffic is moving slowly, but it is starting to clear.
Motorists traveling I-24 between the 25 and 7 mile marker westbound should continue
to use caution as it may take a half hour or more for traffic to return to normal
flow.
Again, both westbound lanes of I-24 along this section are reported as clear.
A stolen WastePath garbage truck barreled down both west and eastbound lanes of I-24 in Paducah, causing a multi-vehicle collision near Exit 7 that snarled traffic for over two hours and injured several.
The truck, which may or may not have been in any of the collisions or just caused them, was eventually stopped by local law enforcement in Calvert City near the intersection of Hwy 62/1523 after a half-hour pursuit.
The initial call to law enforcement came in at approximately 1:45 pm and the driver’s name has not been released.
The severity of the victims injuries are not known at this time.
The following was released by Keith Todd of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at 2:10 pm:
We have reports of multiple crashes along I-24 Westbound lanes from Exit 7 at Paducah to Exit 25 at Calvert City.
Early reports indicate a truck going the wrong way on the westbound lanes has been involved in a number of crashes along this section of I-24 in McCracken and Marshall Counties.
Motorists traveling westbound on I-24 are advised to self-detour via US 62 from Calvert City through Paducah until the several police agencies involved in response can sort things out.
At this time, we have a report of a SEMI near the 8 mile marker blocking one westbound lane. There are other blockages along this westbound section between I-24 Exit 25 at Calvert City and Exit 7 at Paducah.