MULTIPLE PEOPLE INJURED IN BALLARD COUNTY COLLISION; TWO FATALITIES, ONE INJURED IN HARDIN COUNTY WRECK
HE WENT ON DERANGED CRIME SPREE: NOAH DRIVER, 24, OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, WHO WAS ARRESTED ON JULY 12, AND HE WAS CHARGED ON OVER A DOZEN COUNTS, INCLUDING AT LEAST TEN (10) MAJOR FELONY CHARGES.
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 1 in North Hickory, KY., in Graves County, are investigating a three vehicle collision that occurred in Ballard County, following a police pursuit that began in McCracken County. On Friday, July 12, shortly before 9:00 A.M., Central Standard Time, KSP Post 1 received a request from the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office to be on the lookout for a suspect of multiple violent felony offenses in reference to an ongoing investigation of an incident that had occurred earlier this morning.
KSP Post 1 was then notified around 9:30 A.M., Central Standard Time, that officers from the Paducah Police Department located the suspect vehicle and were in pursuit of the vehicle. KSP Post 1 troopers, along with officers from multiple other agencies, responded to assist. Deputies with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office maintained the lead of the pursuit as it entered Ballard County on US 60. The pursued vehicle was identified as a 2018 Toyota Camry being operated by the suspect, who was identified as Noah Driver, 24, of Paducah, KY., who was wanted in connection to multiple violent felony offenses.
The Toyota Camry struck the rear driver’s side of the Cadillac XTS, causing the Cadillac to overturn into the parking lot of La Oasis Gas Station. After striking the Cadillac, the Toyota veered into the eastbound lane of travel, striking the Nissan Rogue. The Nissan came to final rest in the ditch on the south side of the roadway while the Toyota came to final rest in the parking lot of La Oasis.
Both occupants of the Cadillac were transported by Air Evac to an out of state hospital with serious injuries; while both occupants of the Nissan were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Noah Driver was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.
It was determined that the Toyota Camry being operated by Noah Driver was stolen, along with a firearm that he was in possession of at the time of the collision.
Besides KSP Post 1, multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating an incident which started with allegations of a woman being choked, reportedly starting a fire and then leading police on a pursuit which ended in a crash sending multiple people to the hospital.
The McCracken County Sheriff Office first responded to a home on Almyra Avenue on Friday morning around 7:18 A.M..
According to the information released from McCracken County Sheriff Ryan Norman, officials believe the fire was purposely set by a resident of the home with an incendiary device. This happened after the suspect allegedly choked a woman in the home. The female and all occupants managed to escape the fire, officials report, however a dog did not survive.
McCracken County deputies say they identified the prime suspect in this situation as Noah Driver, who reportedly drove away from the scene in the 2018 Toyota Camry which was allegedly stolen from another resident of the home.
The McCracken Sheriff Office also said they learned Noah Driver was armed with a loaded gun, a large sword and wearing a tactical vest. He also was alleged to have made threats stating he would not go to jail.
McCracken County deputies say a Paducah police officer saw Noah Driver’s car at 9:25 A.M., near Park Avenue and 21st Street. The officer tried to stop Noah Driver, but officials say he sped down Park Avenue onto US Highway 60 West. Noah Driver reportedly drove into La Center in Ballard County, where law enforcement authorities said he caused the three-vehicle crash.
Noah Driver was arrested and charged by the KSP with:
- Fleeing or Evading Police 1st Degree (Motor Vehicle),
- *Assault, 1st Degree,
- *Assault, 2nd Degree,
- *Wanton Endangerment-1st Degree,
- *Criminal Mischief 1st Degree, Receiving Stolen Property (Firearm),
- *Receiving Stolen Property $10,000 or more,
- *Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Impairing Substance,
- *Speeding Greater than 26 Miles Per Hour Over the Limit ,
- *Arson, 1st Degree,
- *Strangulation, 1st Degree,
- *Use of Weapon of Mass Destruction,
- *Torture of Dog/Cat Causing Death,
- *Parole Violation of Conditions of Release.
After being treated and subsequently released from a local hospital, Noah Driver was transported to and lodged in the Marshall County Jail in Benton, KY., by the McCracken County Sheriff Office.
The collision reconstruction investigation remains ongoing by KSP Post 1 trooper Casey Hamby. KSP Post 1 was assisted on scene by McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Paducah Police Department, Ballard County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Mercy EMS, Ballard County EMS, Air Evac, Ballard County Emergency Management, Ballard County Rescue Squad, and La Center Fire Department; along with the Concord Fire Department, McCracken County Emergency Management, and Carlisle County Sheriff Office, whom all provided additional aid in this investigation.
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DEPUTY BILL EDWARDS OF THE HARDIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY SHERIFF OFFICE.
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 4 in Elizabethtown, KY., in Hardin County, are investigating after they responded to a two-vehicle fatal collision involving a motorcycle in Hardin County Sunday evening.
On Sunday, July 14, at approximately 8:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, KSP Post 4 Trooper Cole Payne was on patrol when he came upon a collision at the intersection of the U.S. 31 West bypass and the westbound ramp to the Western Kentucky Parkway (WKP).
The preliminary investigation indicates that an off-duty Hardin County deputy, identified as Billy Edwards, 67, of Elizabethtown, KY., was operating a 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling on the bypass when a 2024 Buick Envista, operated by Cameron Harris, 20, address unknown, attempted to make a sharp right turn onto the WKP exit ramp, causing him to collide with the motorcycle. This caused the motorcycle to lose control and exit onto the shoulder of the ramp. Deputy Billy Edwards was ejected along with a passenger, who was his wife, both of them suffered fatal injury wounds.
Both deputy Billy Edwards and his wife, Kathy Edwards, 58, of Elizabethtown, KY., were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner Office. Cameron Harris and a passenger travelling with him in the Buick reported no injuries.
It was reported in various area media outlets that a statement from Kentucky State Police Post 4 Trooper Scotty Sharp said Billy Edwards was a school resource officer for the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Billy Edwards, who worked for 24 years with the Elizabethtown Police Department, was the school resource officer at Creekside Elementary School. He started the job in January 2024.
The affected portion of U.S. 31 West bypass was closed until just before midnight to allow troopers to reconstruct the collision. KSP Post 4 was assisted at the scene by the Elizabethtown Police Department, Hardin County Sheriff Office, Hardin County EMS, and the Hardin County Coroner Office. The collision remains under investigation by KSP Post 4 reconstructionist trooper Jesse Harp.
