One dead after I-65 collision; collision between semis shuts down Bluegrass Parkway for several hours

Kentucky State Police Post Four is investigating a two-vehicle fatal collision that occurred on Interstate 65 in Hardin County Monday.

According to KSP Post Four, at approximately 9:46 a.m. on February 16 troopers responded to a collision at the 103-mile marker on I-65 North near Lebanon Junction. The preliminary investigation indicates traffic on I-65 North had slowed due to a previous collision near the 106-mile marker. A vehicle operated by 29-year-old Drew Cookenmaster of Hodgenville struck the rear of a northbound tractor-trailer.

Cookenmaster was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner’s Office. The operator of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

The northbound lanes of I-65 at the Joe Prather Highway exit were closed for approximately three hours to allow for collision reconstruction. The KSP’s investigation remains ongoing.

Meanwhile, the KSP is also investigating a collision on the Bluegrass Parkway that shut the highway down for several hours.

KSP Post Four says at approximately 9:26 p.m. on February 16 troopers responded to a collision near the 7-mile marker. The preliminary investigation indicates two commercial vehicles were traveling east when the operator of the first tractor-trailer, Manual Ostos Paxtian of Moss, Tennessee, attempted to make an illegal u-turn using an emergency turnaround to attempt to travel west. A second eastbound tractor-trailer, operated by Charles Penn of Union Springs, Alabama, attempted to avoid the first vehicle but was unable to do so and struck it.

The KSP says one of the tractor-trailers caught fire and was completely destroyed after the collision. The second tractor-trailer then overturned in the westbound lanes of the Bluegrass Parkway. Paxtian sustained minor injuries and was transported to Baptist Health Hardin for treatment. Penn was not injured in the collision.

Both eastbound and westbound lanes of the Bluegrass Parkway were closed for several hours as the tractor-trailers were recovered and for roadway cleanup. All lanes were not fully cleared until about 6:30 a.m. on February 17.