Kentucky State Police say emergency crews are making their way to cars stranded along Interstate 75 in a major snowstorm with water, fuel and snacks.
11 a.m.
Police say the southbound lanes are open but northbound remains closed after hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on Interstate 75 in south-central Kentucky.
Kentucky State Police said Saturday morning that they anticipate opening the remaining lanes before noon.
Trooper Lloyd Cochran says he doesn't have a figure for number of cars or people affected by the standstill but noted that no injuries were reported.
Cochran describes people still stuck on the road, some milling about at exits or leaving their cars to seek out the few stores and restaurants nearby.
He says local hotels were booked. Shelters also were opened, but Cochran says he doesn't know how many people went there.
Cochran says salt trucks are out, but traffic is moving slowly and will continue to do so once the northbound lanes open.
The agency said early Saturday on Twitter that its crews and the National Guard are moving cars one at a time and that the Red Cross is establishing shelters for motorists. Police said no further traffic was being allowed on the road and cars were being diverted, but did not give more specifics or immediately answer phone calls and emails seeking comment.
It was unclear how many vehicles were stranded, but photos from local media outlets showed a long line of trucks and other vehicles lined up along the snowy road. State Police twitter updates and brief statements indicated the problem was near an exit at London, Kentucky — south of Lexington.
___
5:57 a.m.
Kentucky State Police say emergency shelters are being opened near two exits along Interstate 75 for motorists who've been stranded by a mammoth storm that's already dumped 18 inches of snow on portions of the state.
State Police officials tell Kentucky television station WTVQ that southbound traffic was being diverted to Exit 76 in Berea, while northbound traffic was being diverted to Exit 41 in London.
A section of I-75 in Rockcastle County was closed twice during Friday afternoon and evening due to numerous accidents. It turned I-75 in both directions in Rockcastle and Laurel counties into a parking lot. Some motorists said they had been stuck on I-75 for 10 hours. The American Red Cross was providing food to stranded drivers.
The storm is moving eastward and could dump 2 feet or more of snow in some states.
