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Three saved after attempting to cross floodwaters in Elizabethtown

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Emergency responders Thursday night made a rescue in Elizabethtown.

“At around 10:30 p.m. Thursday evening, we along with the Elizabethtown Fire Department and Hardin County EMS responded to the report of a disabled vehicle in the floodwater on Hawkins Drive,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “When our officers arrived, we determined a vehicle occupied by two adults and a juvenile drove around the high water barrier and into the flood water which was several feet deep, causing their vehicle to become disabled. Using water rescue techniques, the fire department assisted the occupants from the vehicle without further incident.”

Denham said given the frigid temperatures the situation could have been much worse without the quick efforts of emergency responders.

“The bottom line is: never drive through high water,” Denham said. “It’s a good way to lose your life, not to mention the unnecessary risk first responders are exposed to when performing a rescue.”

As it is said: “turn around, don’t drown.”

More winter weather causes more chaos Thursday

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Light snowfall overnight and frigid temperatures led to slick conditions across the area Thursday morning.

State officials say the Kentucky State Police has responded to 175 stranded motorist calls, 149 non-injury crashes, and 18 injury crashes over the course of the recent winter weather. Slick conditions in Hardin County led to several slide-offs Thursday morning, including an incident that shut down Hawkins Drive for several hours.

“At Interstate 65 Northbound, just north of Exit 91, two semis split off I-65 and came to final rest on Hawkins Drive after striking a house,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in that collision.”

During his severe weather briefing Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear said precipitation is largely out of the forecast for the next several days, although temperatures will remain dangerously low until warmer temperatures are seen on Sunday. Beshear said as conditions have changed, the state is shifting its response.

“We’ll be moving from our emergency search and rescue phase to what we call the stabilization phase,” Beshear said. “We’ll be finishing up most all of our searches and wellness checks. We’ll be winding down our USAR and swift water boat teams and moving more into providing services for our families that have been harmed.”

As of Thursday morning, 653 customers across Kentucky remain without power, down from a peak of more than 43,000. About 6,500 customers remain without water, and more than 45,000 are under boil water advisories.

Kentuckians looking to support those in need may contribute to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund. Another way to show support is by donating blood. Visit www.redcrossblood.org for more information and to find donation drives near you.

Closure of U.S. 62 bridge over Cedar Creek begins Monday

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A bridge along U.S. 62 in Nelson County will be closed for a superstructure project set to begin Monday.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says the U.S. 62 bridge over Cedar Creek will be fully closed with work to be completed within 90 days. The bridge is located about 9.4 miles east of the Hardin-Nelson county line.

“The bridge over Cedar Creek is one of those structures that doesn’t look like it’s all that complicated because it’s relatively short and you can’t really see the superstructures as you drive across it, but it’s like any other bridge,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “It has all those components, and what you can’t see below the bridge deck is what we’re working on replacing there, and crews have 90 days to get that work done and get the road reopened here as we head through spring.”

Galusha Contracting LLC was awarded the contract for the bridge project last November with a bid of about $525,000. A signed detour is posted along state routes on both sides of the bridge.

Follow KYTC District Four on social media for any project updates.

KFW advises coyote sightings more likely during mating season

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The weather outside may be cold, but the scene amongst the Kentucky coyote population is red hot as winter mating season means increased sightings in rural and urban areas.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says winter mating season for coyotes runs through March, which means coyotes will be roaming rural and urban areas as they search for mates, establish territories, and raise pups in the late spring and early summer. Coyotes are usually timid and wary of people, but encounters with people and pets may arise as they go about foraging, protecting dens, and feeding pups.

KFW reminds residents to never feed coyotes. They are opportunistic and may take advantage of an easy meal if you leave food waste such as grease traps, garbage, or compost piles unattended. Sick, injured, or inexperienced coyotes may sniff out human food sources, leading to conflicts.

If you see a coyote, never approach it. KFW says try to scare the animal away by shouting, clapping your hands, stomping your feet, and making yourself appear bigger. Keep scaring the coyote until it is out of sight.

Coyotes may establish dens in hollow trees or logs, rock crevices, brush piles, abandoned groundhog burrows, or abandoned buildings and junk piles. Most coyotes do not cause conflict, but if necessary contact a licensed nuisance wildlife operator. More information is available on the KFW website.