Obtaining Historical Crash Footage In Kentucky

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) operates a network of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) cameras, dynamic message signs, and traffic sensors across the state. In the Louisville metro, much of that infrastructure is run through TriMarc, a partnership between Kentucky and Indiana that monitors traffic on I-64, I-65, I-71, I-264, I-265, the Sherman Minton Bridge, the Lewis and Clark Bridge, and the Kennedy Bridge. Lexington has its own corridor of KYTC ITS coverage on I-64 and I-75 around the city.

The cameras exist mainly to manage traffic in real time, not to record. Most TriMarc and KYTC ITS feeds are not archived as a matter of standard practice. Some footage is retained for short windows when an incident triggers a save. The result is that most of what is captured rolls off the system within a short period unless someone formally requests preservation.

What TriMarc and KYTC cameras actually record

The system uses pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras at fixed locations along the interstates and on selected arterials. The video is monitored by traffic management center operators who can manually save clips when there is a notable incident. Operators also dispatch Safe Patrol assistance vehicles in the Louisville area, and those vehicles often carry their own dashcams.

Cameras do not exist at every mile-marker. Coverage is densest around major interchanges, bridges, and high-volume corridors. We can usually tell within a few hours of a crash whether the location is in the camera footprint, but we always send the request anyway because individual camera positions and retention can change.

Preservation Letters for Crash Footage

Most TriMarc and KYTC retention windows are short. The exact window varies by camera, by location, and by whether the operator manually saved a clip. The practical reality is that if no one writes within the first week or two, the footage is gone. We send our preservation request the same day we are retained on a serious crash whenever possible.

The request goes through Kentucky’s Open Records Act, codified at KRS 61.870 through KRS 61.884. Public agencies have to respond within five business days. Some requests are granted in full, some are partial, and some are denied with a stated reason. We follow up on every denial.

Where Louisville and Lexington corridors are covered

Louisville and Northern Kentucky

TriMarc covers most of the Louisville metro interstate system, including I-64 from the I-264 interchange east of downtown out to the Indiana line, I-65 from the Watterson interchange south through downtown and across the Kennedy Bridge, I-71 from downtown out to the Hurstbourne and Gene Snyder interchanges, I-264 (Watterson Expressway) all the way around the city, I-265 (Gene Snyder) from west to east, and the major bridges across the Ohio River. The Brent Spence Bridge corridor in Northern Kentucky is monitored by Ohio-Kentucky Indiana traffic operations partners.

Lexington and Central Kentucky

KYTC ITS coverage in Central Kentucky focuses on I-75 north and south of Lexington, I-64 east and west of the city, the New Circle Road interchanges, and the corridor connecting Lexington to Frankfort. Coverage is meaningful but not as dense as Louisville.

Eastern and Western Kentucky

The Mountain Parkway, Bluegrass Parkway, Cumberland Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, and Pennyrile have selective ITS coverage at major intersections and known incident-prone locations. Coverage on rural two-lane state routes is generally limited.

How an open records request actually works in Kentucky

Under KRS 61.872, any person can inspect or copy public records. The request must be in writing and must describe the records sought with serious specificity. The agency has five business days to respond. Denials must cite a statutory exception and describe how it applies. Disputes can be appealed to the Attorney General under KRS 61.880.

We send the request to KYTC, to TriMarc, to Louisville Metro Public Works, and to LMPD. We also send preservation letters to private cameras nearby (gas stations, restaurants, residential security systems) because those usually have far longer retention than the public cameras.

What happens when the footage is found

Footage that captures a crash is some of the strongest evidence available in a Kentucky personal injury case. It freezes the timeline, the lighting, the weather, the lane positions, the brake lights, and the speed differentials. Carriers stop arguing about who hit whom when the video shows it.

Footage that captures the buildup but not the impact still helps. Following distance, weaving, brake pumping, and lane drift are all visible in the seconds before a collision and corroborate witness accounts.

Even no-footage results are useful. A confirmed denial that no footage exists narrows the focus to other evidence and protects against later surprise.

Need TriMarc Or KYTC Footage Of Your Crash?

Real Clients. Real Results. We send the preservation letter the day we are retained.

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