WQXE News

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenburg, and Kentucky Third District Congressman Morgan McGarvey provided an update on the UPS Flight 2976 crash after touring the crash site Wednesday afternoon.

Beshear described the scene of the crash as “violent.”

“Where the plane hit, at best, is destroyed,” Beshear said. “What you see are mangled remnants of what was in its path, completely burnt and blackened.”

The Governor confirmed the number of total fatalities as of Wednesday afternoon was 11. A 12th fatality was confirmed Wednesday evening.

Beshear said operations are moving from rescue to recovery.

“We do not expect to find anyone else alive in the area,” Beshear said. “Because of that, we now move and put the safety of the first responders at the top of the list, and so we’re going to have limited operations at night because if you walk through this debris field it’s very easy for somebody to get hurt, and we want to make sure that everyone on site is safe. After disasters, we have lost people, and I don’t want that to happen here.”

A victim family reunification center has been established at the Louisville Metro Police Training Academy, located at 2911 Taylor Boulevard.

McGarvey said the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation.

“They are going to do their best to get us answers,” McGarvey said. “As much as we’re hurting right now, we want those answers quickly. They want to make sure though that they’re both thorough, that they’re right, that they’re showing respect for everyone involved. We will continue working with them and giving them everything they need.”

Anybody that believes they have possible debris from the crash on their property is asked to not disturb it but report it to witness@ntsb.qov.

The Governor has declared a state of emergency in response to the crash. Kentuckians can support victims by contributing to the Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund.

The United Way of Central Kentucky recently distributed $5,000 in mini-grants to two area organizations. 

The United Way made a $3,000 donation to the Elizabethtown Police Department and a $2,000 donation to Fort Knox Alphas – Omicron Nu Lambda.

According to the United Way, the EPD donation “will support crime victims in Elizabethtown with emergency needs such as food, shelter, personal care items, clothing, transportation assistance, and animal boarding.” The donation to the Fort Knox Alphas will support their Men of the Light Youth Mentorship Program, which aims to empower young men “to develop strong character, pursue academic excellence, and build the confidence needed to become future community leaders.”

The United Way’s mini-grants program is used by the organization to support community projects and initiatives that fall outside of the organization’s traditional funding structure. Mini-grants are distributed to support small projects on an as-needed basis. Learn more about the program and more information on the United Way of Central Kentucky’s mission at www.unitedwayck.org.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is alerting drivers to possible delays on Interstate 65 in Bullitt County related to blasting.

Permitted blasting operations for a private development will result in rolling roadblocks on Interstate 65 beginning November 17.

According to KYTC District Five, blasting operations will take place in the area adjacent to mile marker 119.4 near the Airport South Logistics Buildings on Ferguson Lane. The blasting will occur daily from 2 to 3 p.m. from November 17 through December 9.

Rolling roadblocks will be used to safely complete the work, beginning on the southbound I-65 lanes at Exit 121/Brooks Hill Road. Roadblocks will also be used on the northbound lanes beginning at Exit 116/Cedar Grove Road.

Drivers should expect delays of up to 20 minutes when passing through the work zones. Questions regarding the work should be directed to Louisville Paving and Construction Company.