Two crashes slow I-75 traffic throughout Wednesday

The lanes of Interstate 75 were reopening Wednesday afternoon after an early-morning tractor-trailer crash and subsequent accidents snarled traffic throughout the day.

The tractor-trailer, which was hauling engines for Toyota, caught fire about 2 a.m. while northbound near the Paris Pike exit, Lexington Battalion Chief Todd Samuelson said.

At about 3:30 p.m., as crews continued to clear the morning crash, a second injury accident on northbound I-75 involving four vehicles caused other lane closures, Lexington police spokeswoman Brenna Angel said.

About 4:30 p.m., the left and center lanes of I-75 were open and moving smoothly near both crashes, Angel said. Police announced at 5 p.m. that the right lane would reopen soon.

The entrance ramp from Broadway to northbound I-75 remained at 4:30 p.m.

The interstate had beenbacked up as much astwo miles leading up to the crash site, police said.

Samuelson said the tractor-trailer driver in the morning crash was out of the truck when crews arrived, and someone was taken to the hospital, but he couldn’t confirm whether it was the driver.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 7:34 AM with the headline "Two crashes slow I-75 traffic throughout Wednesday."