Laurel County Sheriff's Traffic Crash Reconstructionist Lt. Chris Edwards is currently investigating a fatal collision that happened just past the Little Laurel Rd intersection on East 80 on Monday afternoon.
Lt Edwards reported that a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling eastbound on KY 80 traveled across the centerline in a slight curve and struck a Freightliner truck head-on causing fatal injury to the driver of the Tahoe and critical injuries to a passenger in the Tahoe. The driver of the truck was reported uninjured.
The two drivers were identified as:
• Driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe – Joseph Gary Smith, 60, of Manchester, pronounced deceased at the scene by Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling.
A passenger was airlifted to UK Medical Center with critical injuries.
• Driver of the Freightliner truck - John D. Philpot, 45, of London – no injuries reported.
The Laurel County Sheriff's Office - Maj. Chuck Johnson, Capt. Robbie Grimes, Deputy Jamie Etherton, Deputy Allen Turner, Detective Robert Reed, Detective Taylor McDaniel, and Case Officer/Crash Reconstructionist Lt. Chris Edwards, London Laurel Rescue Squad, Laurel County Fire Department, London City Fire Department, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Laurel County Department of Public Safety, Eco-Tech, and London Police Department all assisted at the scene.
East 80 is now open for travel.
ORIGINAL STORY: https://www.thekentuckydaily.com/breaking-east-80-in-laurel-co-temporarily-closed-due-to-a-fatal-collision/
Samantha Walden, Staff Writer at the Kentucky Daily
Photo courtesy of Laurel County Sheriff’s Dept