HORROR, HEARTBREAK ON CHRISTMAS EVE:
TRAGEDY AS SUV-SEMI COLLISION ON U.S. 23 BY KENTUCKY POWER PLANT KILLS 3 MEMBERS OF SAME FAMILY, AS LAWRENCE COUNTY WOMAN, HER DAUGHTER AND WOMAN’S MOTHER DID NOT SURVIVE IN DEVASTATING CRASH LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON
DECEMBER 25, 2018 – written by WADE QUEEN
In one of the worst vehicle crash scenes in many years in Lawrence County, in a tragedy that was severely magnified as of all days, happening on the eve of the most sacred and celebrated day of the year, left three local members of the same family deceased after their wreck involving their automobile and a semi-tractor trailer.
Local firefighters, emergency medical team personals, and police, who arrived immediately after the call responses to potentially rescue and save anyone who was injured, instead were left shaken after discovering that all 3 of the female occupants in the SUV died immediately after the impact with the semi.
According to the Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland, a fatal crash took the lives of the three people, 2 adult women, and a young girl, that happened on U.S. 23 near the AEP power plant, north of Louisa on U.S. 23 at around 3:00 P.M. Christmas Eve Monday,
The KSP identified the 3 victims are Edwina Wilson, 49, of Louisa, Brenda Charles, 66, of Louisa and a 12 year old girl, whose name has as yet to be released.
It is believed that Brenda Charles and the 12 year old traveling with Edwina Wilson were Wilson’s mother and the young girl was Wilson’s daughter.
According to KSP officials, it was reported the automobile was traveling south on U.S. 23 towards Louisa, at the AEP power plant area, when at around 3:00 P.M., the driver of the car attempted to make a left hand turn in front of an 18 wheeler, and the semi could not stop in time, rear ending the small SUV into impact and causing it multiple rollovers across U.S. 23.
The severe scale of the wreck of caused all four U.S. 23 to be closed for over 3 hours causing a major back up of traffic back to coming well past Louisa on the north bound lanes and to almost coming from the Boyd County line of the southbound lanes. Southbound 23 was reopened.
According to Lawrence County Emergency Management they reported U.S. 23 situation over several hours as the following:
9:15 Update vehicles have been removed and roadway status is returning to normal. Please be safe and realize just how quickly life can change.
8:30 Update No Change.
7:30 Update traffic is still flowing slowly in the area. If you’re passing through the scene please use caution, drive slowly and watch for responders.
6:30 Update both lanes will close periodically during reconstruction. At this time all directions open just use caution.
5:50 Update both directions back open but could close again during reconstruction.
5:30 Update all lanes of US 23 will be shutting down for accident reconstruction.
4:45 PM Update at this time southbound traffic is flowing on the berm with caution. Northbound traffic was starting to open as well. Will likely shut back down later for reconstruction.
The driver of the 18 wheeler semi, who was identified as Randall Boggs of Grayson, was not injured in the wreck. Boggs was questioned for 2 hours on the scene, as he repeatedly told law enforcement investigators he could not stop in time from hitting the automobile.
As of now, no criminal charges have been filed as a result of the crash, and alcohol is not a suspected contributor in regards to both sides.
However, the police ticketed Randall Boggs for several equipment violations on his 18 wheeler semi vehicle.
In addition, in a peculiar and possibly cryptic remark, Louisa Fire Department Captain Dan Longstreth, as the LFD responded to the crash scene, stated in an interview: “Just slow down and stay off your cell phones. Don’t be texting while you’re driving. Don’t be talking on your phones and pay attention to what’s going on around you and slow down”. “Just to slow down and be very cautious of your surroundings. Look at your surroundings, what’s around you, and just be very cautious,” Captain LongstrethVsaid.
Captain Longstreth and other Lawrence County emergency management officials on the scene say crashes like this are hard, but the holidays make it much harder.
“It’s hard on us also. Right here at Christmas time and you see this, you know, to see three people lose their lives right at Christmas. It’s hard on all of us also,” Captain Dan Longstreth explained.
Captain Longstreth stated that there were many more people than normal travel during this holiday, and that keeping an eye on your surroundings could reduce the risk of a crash.
“This makes the second accident that we (Louisa FD) have had today and people just need to pay attention and slow down,” said Longstreth.
Lawrence County Emergency Management identified all units that worked on the crash scene as the following: Louisa Fire Department and Netcare Ambulance Lawrence County, Fallsburg Fire Department, Louisa Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriffs Department, KYTC District 12, Safety patrol, Lawrence County Coroner’s Office and Kentucky State Police.
Captain Longstreth said this holiday may be the busiest one he has ever worked, as there was another severe crash on 23 earlier Monday morning that the Louisa Fire Department; plus numerous emergency departments responding to others accidents out in rural areas of Lawrence County.
All I can say is if the semi hit them in the rear end how was it not his fault? I was under the understanding that when hit in the rear end it was automatically the person from the backs fault, for failur to maintain speed and control. I just cant understand!!
If that was true then if somebody cut you off and suddenly stopped hard causing you to rear end them damaging both vehicles and or causing injury or death would it be your fault? NO!
It doesn’t sound good for the truck driver but they didn’t charge him at fault or he’d have went straight to jail. That’s what happens to a commercial truck driver when they’re at fault. Especially when there’s a death involved. Straight to jail!
Just because you’re “rear ended” doesn’t mean it’s not your fault!
I suggest, especially if you’re idea of commercial truck drivers is very negative, to have a ride in a commercial truck through a busy area and count how many people create a dangerous situation. It’s very easy to do and not think you’ve done anything wrong.
There are a lot more bad drivers with a regular operator’s license than those with Comercial drivers license mainly because commercial drivers are much more regulated with random drug screens, bi-annual physicals, check points (aka weight stations) etc. They even have to keep logs proving how many hours they’ve been driving for the day and they have to keep a record of the last seven days how long they drive, worked and rested. Bad truck drivers don’t last very long these days! Most times wrecks involving a commercial truck and a four wheel vehicle is the drivers fault of the four wheel vehicle.
It’s tragic that three people lost their lives regardless. Especially a 12 year old.
Praying for the family who lost loved ones.. also pray for truck driver, im sure it is exceedingly difficult for him .
This was my family…my mom, my little sister and mamaw and she didn’t cut anyone off…i was talking through the car phone on bluetooth with them when it happened…she was in front of him already and had put her turn signal on and everything…he was too close to them going too fast…Thank God the rest of my family decided not to come to Christmas Eve dinner at my house that night,, too, or they would all be dead. Enjoy your life, leave mine alone thank you. It’s already hard enough without the spectators.