Truck driver pulled to safety after crash leaves vehicle dangling over bridge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The driver of a semi-truck was pulled to safety by firefighters Friday after a crash that left the vehicle dangling over a bridge over the Ohio River.

The three-vehicle crash on the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge connecting Louisville, Kentucky, to southern Indiana was reported around noon, Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said at a news conference. One other person involved in the accident was immediately taken to hospital and crews were deployed to rescue the truck driver from the cab.

It took about 40 minutes to set up a rope system and get someone ready to rappel to the cabin and hook the driver to a safety harness and get her out safely, O’Neill said. She was taken to hospital as a precaution.

“The train runs all the time for this kind of thing,” he said of the rescue company. “This is really a worst-case scenario.”

The firefighters were prepared and the operation went smoothly thanks to their training, he said.

“These were some serious heroes here,” he said. “This was really professional, well-rehearsed, well-trained stuff. They came right out and headed straight for her.”

Louisville Metro Police are investigating the crash and said the bridge remained closed in both directions Friday afternoon.

A safety inspection of the bridge will be conducted after all vehicles are removed, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said.