Fiery crash closes bridge linking Ohio, Kentucky 'for days'

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Fiery crash closes bridge linking Ohio, Kentucky 'for days'

2020-11-12 05:42 Last Updated At：05:50

A fiery crash on a bridge linking Ohio and Kentucky could force the span to remain closed for days as intense heat from the blaze delayed inspections of the bridge that serves as a crucial link for interstate commerce, Kentucky's governor said Wednesday.

Closure of the Brent Spence Bridge caused detours along a major transportation artery connecting downtown Cincinnati with northern Kentucky across the Ohio River.

“The bridge, at best, will be closed several days," Gov. Andy Beshear said in a virtual briefing. “But we ought to be prepared for more disruption, potentially significantly more disruption, than that.”

The fire was contained, but the extreme heat made the bridge too hot for bridge inspectors, Beshear said. Damage to the bridge and its concrete decking was visible, he said.

The governor warned that a closure lasting several days could be “optimistic."

“We won't have the details until those inspectors are there, but this is a serious accident and it is not outside the realm of possibility that we are looking at weeks," Beshear said.

The crash occurred around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday. The governor said the crash appeared to be caused when a northbound truck jackknifed on the bridge and was struck by another truck hauling potassium hydroxide. No injuries were reported.

The crash sparked the fire, with 400 gallons of diesel fuel being the main cause, officials said. An undetermined amount of diesel fuel spilled and burned in the fire. Officials said the potassium hydroxide contributed to the heat and duration of the fire, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The closure of the bridge caused detours for motorists, and Beshear asked for patience as officials deal with the damage. Kentucky and Ohio officials said they're committed to getting the bridge repaired and reopened as quickly as possible.

Kentucky transportation officials say the bridge carries about 160,000 vehicles a day.

“The Brent Spence Bridge is a vital component of our national highway system," said Jack Marchbanks, director of the Ohio Department of Transportation. “A closure of any length will have a huge impact on the people who live and work in this region."

Ohio and Kentucky officials are working with federal transportation officials “to keep people and goods moving," Marchbanks said.

Officials stressed that safety will be paramount when dealing with the damage.

“We’re going to make sure it’s safe for our personnel to go on to inspect," Beshear said. “But then ... when we reopen it, it’s going to be at a time when I would drive my family across it, so that our citizens can have confidence that it’s safe.”

Some key figures about Nepal’s parliamentary election

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal is holding parliamentary elections Thursday, a year after a youth-led uprising forced out the government chosen in the last elections.

Here are some figures about the election:

The election is being held just three years after Nepal's previous national vote, following the political upheaval that led to the government’s collapse in 2025. That paved the way for an interim government, which later called for fresh elections.

Nearly 19 million people are registered to vote in Nepal, according to the Election Commission. About 9.66 million are men and 9.24 million are women. Another 200 voters are registered under the “others” category, which includes people who do not identify as male or female and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The number of registered voters has risen by nearly 1 million since the last parliamentary election in November 2022, as the youth-led uprising sparked greater interest in politics.

The voting age in Nepal is 18, and authorities had urged eligible young adults to register.

The youth-led uprising in September 2025 that brought down the previous government and triggered early elections has become a defining issue in the campaign.

Political parties have pledged to amplify the voices of younger voters, promising to tackle corruption and improve governance.

Voters will directly elect 165 members to the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of Parliament. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member House will be filled through a proportional representation system, with political parties nominating lawmakers based on the share of votes each party receives.

Previous government in Nepal have largely been coalitions, with two or more parties joining forces to command a majority in the House. The country has a history of political instability, having seen 15 governments in the past two decades.

The Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) are the long-dominant political parties. However, they had been part of the government ousted last year and have faced public dissatisfaction. The National Independent Party, formed in 2022, has drawn significant support on the campaign trail. Former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, also an ex-rapper, is its candidate for prime minister.

This version has corrected the figures of registered voters by gender.