By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor
Police believe a Rockholds man who died in a car accident Sunday was distracted, possibly by a cell phone, when he wrecked in the Cripple Creek area of Whitley County.
Deputy Ron Bowling said Darrel R. Taylor Jr., 35, was headed eastbound on KY 836 at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday when he left the roadway and struck a tree.
Bowling said an investigation determined Taylor lost control of the car, possibly from a wheel dropping off the shoulder. It appears Taylor overcorrected, crossed the center line, and left the roadway, striking a tree.
“The speed limit is 55 miles per hour... and the skid-mark measurements indicate he was probably going in the mid-40s, so I don’t think that speed was a factor,” Bowling said. “...He was within the speed limit but I feel like he was distracted. There were two cell phones in that car ringing when I got there.”
Bowling said Taylor may have been bringing home dinner — a hot pizza was in the passenger seat.
Taylor wrecked on a straight portion of the highway. Bowling said the setting sun may have also played a factor.
The wreck happened near the front driveway of a home, where the owners were outside hanging Christmas lights.
“They actually didn’t see the wreck but they were able to call 911,” Bowling said.
Taylor’s two-door Toyota slid at an angle, striking the tree in the front fender and driver’s side door.
“It was a very severe impact, the car actually collapsed,” Bowling said.
Taylor was transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Bowling said drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the wreck at this time.
“It was just one of those tragedies, a beautiful day, and the only thing we’ve concluded right now, we feel like the driver was distracted in some way,” he said.
Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Whitley County EMS and Three Point Fire Department responded to the scene.
“The investigation is continuing, we have the vehicle, it’s been impounded and taken to a locked, secure facility,” Bowling said.
Local News
Rockholds man dies in crash
Police believe he was possibly distracted by cell phone in Whitley County wreck
- Local News
-
-
Police search for suspect in highway beating
It was called by some as “road rage,” but Barbourville Police say last Saturday evening’s fight at a city intersection was definitely an assault. And they are still looking for the man who police say threw the first punch.
-
Woman gets five years for drugs
In U.S. Federal Court Wednesday, Heather A. Collins, who was called by Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove as a “kind of leader for the group,” was sentenced to five years after using prescription forms to acquire various drugs.
-
Father, son rearraigned for meth charges
A son and father were rearraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in London.
-
Hounds hold on
Corbin Coach Rob Ledington rolled the dice after his Redhounds took a 6-0 lead, but it paid off with an 8-7 win over Whitley County as Corbin advanced to the 50th District Championship tonight with an ace up their sleeve.
-
Drugs suspected in fatal Knox County crash
Drug use may have been a factor in a crash Monday in Knox County in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, according to Kentucky State Police Post-10 Harlan Public Affairs Officer Trooper Shane Jacobs and Sgt. Jimmy Young.
-
Marie Rader wins 89th Rep. District Primary
Republican Marie Rader won the primary election for the 89th District House of Representatives.
-
Barton wins another circuit court clerk term
Whitley County voters went with experience when it came to electing the next circuit court clerk, choosing incumbent Gary Barton, according to unofficial election results.
-
Bunch victor in 82nd House District
For incumbent State Representative Regina Petrey Bunch, the votes came in bunches Tuesday night.
-
Voter turnout higher than expected
The election day ran fairly smooth in Whitley, with the exception of several precincts losing power briefly and a few complaints regarding signs being too close to polling places.
-
Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police search for suspect in highway beating
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
