Two-vehicle accident at Manchester exit closes parkway

A loaded gravel truck exited from the Hal Rogers Parkway at Manchester and apparently had no brakes, witnesses say.

The tandem truck came off the ramp and struck a truck on Ky. 80 pushing it approximately 184 feet as it came to rest on the exit ramp near Taco Bell.

The gravel truck went through the guardrail, down an embankment, and came to rest at the guardrail on Hal Rogers Parkway facing east toward Big Creek.

The gravel truck then burst into flames, witnesses say.

Glenn Ray Henson, of Manchester, witnessed the accident and removed the driver from the burning truck.

The driver, unidentified at this time, was taken to AdventHealth by ambulance and later airlifted to another facility.

The driver of the pickup truck has been identified as Wes Smith, of Manchester, an employee of the Clay County PVA office.

He was taken to AdventHealth also and the extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.

The parkway was expected to reopen by 12:30 p.m.