Update on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 6:41 a.m.:

I-71 in Walton Google Maps

Boone County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tom Scheben says the two victims killed in the crash are both 53-year-old women from Ohio. Their names have not been released.

The northbound lanes of I-71 reopened at 6:30 p.m. The southbound lanes were shut down until about 9:40 p.m.

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed any part of the accident to call the Boone County Sheriff's Office at (859) 334-2175. 

Original story posted Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 6:44 p.m.:

(Walton, Ky.) - Interstate 71 was shut down for several hours following a horrific crash Wednesday afternoon.

Boone County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tom Scheben said at about 4:30, the driverof a passenger car travelling northbound at the 73 mile marker lost control of their vehicle.

The car slid through the median into the southbound lanes where it collided head-on with a semi hauling masonite.

The impact of the crash was so strong the car was pushed back into the median.

Police say two occupants in the car were killed on impact.

A second semi carrying a load of molasses hit the rear of the first semi which had jack-knifed.

No word yet on the names of the two people killed in the accident. It is also unclear if the semi drivers were injured.

I-71's northbound lanes were still shut down as of 6:00 p.m.