Tractor-trailer crash unleashes distillery slop, closes BG Parkway

STAFF REPORT

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, 1:52 a.m. — An overturned tractor-trailer and its spilled load closed the east and westbound lanes of the Blue Grass Parkway at the 25 mile marker just after midnight Tuesday morning. Bardstown Police, sheriff’s deputies and Nelson County EMS were dispatched to the the scene at about 12:20 a.m. When the truck overturned it spread its load of distillery slop and mud all across both sides of the parkway.

The Bardstown Fire Department was called out and declared a Level 2 Hazmat situation, which includes any incident involving a spill of material that exceeds the capability of the first-responders and spills of more than 50 gallons of petroleum products, engine, transmission and hydraulic fluids. The parkway was shutdown at 1 a.m. in both directions while state highway department heavy equipment came in to clean up the roadway. Joe Prewitt, director of Nelson County Emergency Management, responded to the scene to oversee the cleanup operation. At press time, work was still underway to open the eastbound lanes.

The driver of the tractor-trailer rig was no injured.

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