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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet worker opens home to stranded Canadian family

Truck, travel trailer damaged in I-275 crash
Posted at 11:49 AM, Jul 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-24 11:49:56-04

HEBRON, Ky. -- A Northern Kentucky road crew showed a Canadian family the meaning of hospitality after a crash left them stranded.

Shaun Alspach, wife Leah and daughters Mackenzie and Olivia are moving from Calgary, Alberta, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. They packed all their belongings into their truck and 30-foot-travel trailer, then set out to see the United States.

"We've been planning this trip for months and months and months," he said.

Most recently, they visited Big Bone Lick State Park and were headed to a Christian music festival in central Ohio.

They were stopping in heavy traffic on Interstate 275, Alspach said, when a semitrailer rear-ended them. Their truck turned on its side; the trailer ended up on top.

The aftermath of the crash that left the Alspach family stranded. (Photo courtesy Shaun E. Alspach)

"You can imagine the shock and anguish that came pretty quickly," he said.

The family climbed through the passenger windows. None of them was seriously hurt. By the time they got out, six or seven people were already waiting to help.

Cory Huber's crew from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet took their belongings to a warehouse. Then one of the workers opened up his home in Hebron while he takes a vacation to Alaska.

"That's the kind of crew that I have down here," Huber said. "They're good guys. I'm proud of all of them and they deserve a lot of credit."

An attorney has stepped up to help them sort out insurance issues, Alspach said. The family planned to ship their items home, then rent a car to finish out their trip.

"If we have a few more days after we get all this sorted out, those will be good memories," Alspach said.