MUHLENBERG CO., KY (WFIE) -
Both lanes of U.S. 431 are back open after a fatal crash in Muhlenberg County.
One driver's dead and another was hurt when a truck crashed into a semi and caught fire. It happened just after 8:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Investigators don't know why this deadly accident happened, but they do know the victims. They say 32-year-old David Blake died at the scene, and 45-year-old Marty Garrett.
On Wednesday morning, law enforcement and emergency personnel arrived to find a semi truck driven by Marty Garrett, diagonally blocking both lanes of U.S. 431 after it collided with Blake's pickup truck traveling the opposite direction.
"The pickup truck veered into the northbound lane and struck the coal truck head on," said KSP Trooper Stu Recke.
Blake was pronounced dead at the scene, while Garrett was transported to a local hospital for non life-threatening injuries. Trooper Stu Recke says it doesn't appear the dense fog throughout the county had anything to do with the accident.
"When I spoke with the operator of one of the vehicles involved in this collision, he said that it wasn't foggy over here."
Central City Fire Chief Ricky King says it was important to get to the scene early because of the fire, and he says they were able to do that thanks to a new 911 text system sent to all the department's supervisors.
"We don't always have a radio on or with us. We still know what's going on in our community and it's been a real benefit to us."
U.S. 431 was shut down for several hours, and traffic was directed to a detour on U.S. 604 while crews cleaned up the scene.
State police are still trying to figure out just what caused the crash, but once again, all lanes of Highway 431 are open now.
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