CORBIN —
Times-Tribune
Staff Report
Interstate 75 sees series of car crashes, deaths and an arrest for DUI
A Tennessee man is charged with murder and driving under the influence after he struck and killed a Kentucky man who had stopped along Interstate 75 to check the load on his wrecker, according to Kentucky State Police-Vehicle Enforcement Public Affairs Officer Steven Douglas.
Howard M. White, 49, of Bagdad, who was driving a 2000 white Ford rollback wrecker, was killed after he stopped about 4 a.m. near mile marker 30 in Laurel County to check his load. He was struck by a 2008 white Ford box truck driven by Austin T. Meredith, 24, of Sevierville, Tenn.
Douglas said Meredith crossed the fog line, striking White and the parked wrecker.
White was fatally injured. Two passengers in the wrecker weren’t injured.
It was determined Meredith was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and charged with murder, driving under the influence, wanton endangerment and several commercial vehicle violations. He was jailed in the Laurel County Corrections Center.
Assisting at the scene were CVE Officers Jerry Jones and Mike Hamblin, Kentucky State Police Trooper Justin Oliver and Sgt. Steve Walker.
CVE Sgt. Greg Reams continues his investigation.
Georgia man arrested after nearly striking firefighters
A Georgia man was arrested Saturday after he ignored a road closure and nearly struck three West Knox firefighters, according to Kentucky State Police-Vehicle Enforcement Public Affairs Officer Steven Douglas.
Winchester K. Eldred of Marietta, Ga., was arrested about 6:30 a.m. while CVE Sgt. Greg Reams investigated a fatal collision.
Douglas said Eldred accelerated through the closed area, ran over cones, and nearly struck the firefighters who were assisting with traffic control.
Reams arrested Eldred and charged him for having no insurance as well as for disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic, third-degree criminal mischief, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, disorderly conduct, menacing and three counts of wanton endangerment.
Eldred was jailed in the Laurel County Corrections Center.
Reams continues his investigation.
Two ejected in Sunday I-75 crash
Two people were injured in a crash Sunday near the seven mile marker along Interstate 75, according to Kentucky State Police Post 11-London.
The crash happened when the driver of a northbound 2012 Chevrolet sedan lost control of the vehicle, which overturned, ejecting the driver and a passenger.
The driver was taken to a local hospital by ambulance and the other was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Two other passengers weren’t injured. Police said the two who were ejected weren’t wearing seat belts.
The crash is being investigated by Trooper Brandon Creekmore. He was assisted by Trooper Mike Witt, Whitley County EMS, as well as South Whitley, Williamsburg, and Emlyn fire departments.
Coroner names victims killed in Friday I-75 crash
Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley has released the names of the three Louisville residents killed in a crash on Interstate 75 Friday.
The three who died in the crash, which happened about 2:30 p.m., were in a burgundy late model Ford Explorer SUV. Ambeanna Catlett, 31, and stepdaughter Savanna Catlett, 14, were pronounced dead at the scene. Brian Catlett, 38, who was Ambeanna Catlett’s husband and Savanna Catlett’s father, was transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m.
Croley said no autopsies were performed and that all three died from injuries sustained in the crash.
There was also a women in the Explorer who was seriously injured. She was flown to the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn.
The crash happened near Williamsburg when the driver of a northbound Toyota Tundra tried to change lanes and struck the Explorer, which was in the passing lane, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Craig Reed. The impact forced the Explorer into the median, where it rolled over and landed on its top.
All four people in the Explorer and two in the Tundra had to be extricated by rescuers, according to Goldbug Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dorman Patrick.
The two people in the Tundra received minor injuries and refused treatment.
The crash investigation continues.
Article source: http://thetimestribune.com/local/x1501704982/Police-Roundup-July-9-2012
