Semi engulfed in flames falls off I‑65 near downtown Louisville; driver jumps to safety
**LOUISVILLE, Ky. —** Friday morning, June 13, brought a harrowing sight to Louisville’s “Spaghetti Junction,” the junction of Interstates 64, 65 and 71: a semi‑truck aflame and teetering off the southbound ramp of I‑65 near the Kennedy Bridge. The truck came to a stop, hanging precariously over I‑64 East/I‑71 North before ultimately plunging to the ramps below—a scene both alarming and surreal ([youtube.com][1]).
### Crash Timeline & Fire Response
The first emergency call came in just before 10:15 a.m., reporting flames and a semi dangling over the edge of the elevated highway ([wave3.com][2]). Witnesses described hearing an explosion before seeing flames engulf the trailer wheels—a chaotic moment caught both by eyewitnesses and news choppers .
Louisville Fire Department crews were on scene within minutes, working swiftly to control the fire. Capt. Donovan Sims confirmed the trailer was empty upon impact, greatly reducing potential toxicity or cargo‑related hazards ([wave3.com][2]). By shortly before 11 p.m., the blaze had been fully extinguished and the truck removed from view, still smoldering amid charred interstate supports .
### A Miraculous Escape
Amid the chaos, one crucial fact stood out: despite the severity of the incident, the driver survived largely unhurt. According to firefighters and police, the driver took a leap of faith—literally—jumping from the cab as it dangled above the ramp below. He fell approximately 15–20 feet to the ground, escaping with minor lower‑body injuries, according to LMPD ([wlky.com][3]). He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treated for his injuries, with most described as non‑life‑threatening ([wave3.com][2]).
### Intersection’s Troubled History & Safety Push
This dramatic event is the latest in a growing string of accidents at the Spaghetti Junction complex. WAVE‑3 reports that this stretch of I‑65 had already seen at least three serious collisions over Memorial Day weekend alone—ranging from overturned trucks to previous over‑the‑edge wrecks ([wave3.com][2]).
Responding to rising alarm, Mayor Craig Greenberg emphasized working closely with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to roll out additional safety enhancements. KYTC has indicated plans to apply epoxy surface treatments and improve pavement markings, hoping to enhance vehicular traction and driver awareness in this notorious zone ([wlky.com][3]).
Mayor Greenberg also urged motorists to slow down and drive with caution, particularly in this area, acknowledging the junction’s design challenges and recent string of incidents .
### Traffic Reopens & Structural Check
Following a detailed inspection of the Kennedy Bridge and surrounding roadways—carried out once fire crews confirmed the blaze was out—the state’s transportation engineers found **no structural damage**. All southbound lanes of I‑65 and connecting ramps to I‑64 were reopened by approximately 8:45 p.m. on Friday, easing the massive backups that had formed during the afternoon emergency ([wlky.com][3]).
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**In summary:** what began as a catastrophic-looking crash evolved into a testament to quick thinking and emergency coordination. The driver’s jump from the cab spared him from potentially graver harm, and first responders swiftly doused the fire and secured the site. Yet the incident underscores broader safety questions surrounding one of Louisville’s most notorious traffic interchanges. With state officials promising upgrades and mayoral oversight, the hope is that this latest scare sparks meaningful change—preventing a future tragedy rather than finishing with one.
*This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.*
