HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (9/26/12) – At approximately 1:15 this afternoon, South Hopkins Fire Department and Kentucky State Police responded to a report of an accident with injuries on I-69 south near mile marker 32 (formerly Western KY Parkway west). A PHI Medical helicopter was also dispatched but was called-off after two victims died from their injuries on-scene.

The female driver of a burgundy 2004 Isuzu Rodeo, Mary J. Moore, age 34 of Louisville, KY, with one male passenger, her husband Keith Moore, age 41, was traveling northbound on I-69 when she lost control of the vehicle. She exited the roadway onto the shoulder, overcorrected, and entered the median, launching and flipping the vehicle into the opposite southbound lane. The Rodeo struck a motorcycle with Indiana plates carrying two riders. Both riders, a male and a female estimated to be in their late 60s to early 70s, were pronounced dead at the scene by Hopkins County Coroner Dennis Mayfield. Both riders were wearing helmets.

Mrs. Moore had been loaded into an ambulance by Medical Center Ambulance Service when SurfKY News arrived on-scene at 1:30. Mr. Moore was trapped, requiring mechanical extraction. He was fitted with a neck brace and was in obvious pain as he was loaded for transport. Both subjects were conscious. They were transported to Regional Medical Center where it was determined that their injuries do not appear to be life threatening. Both had been wearing seatbelts.

A witness, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene, said that both of the deceased victims were alive and breathing before responders arrived. A former first responder himself, the witness monitored their pulses and said they expired shortly after his arrival. He said both had suffered significant injuries to the head and body.

Another witness said that the Rodeo “caught major air” as it launched out of the median, landing directly in the path of the motorcycle.

Public Affairs Officer Trooper Stu Recke of Kentucky State Police said that it remains unclear if the accident was caused by driver fatigue, a medical emergency, or drugs or alcohol.

Dirt and debris littered the roadway, and the vehicles blocked both lanes. At the present time, both southbound lanes of I-69 are closed from the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway to Exit 24, Dawson Springs. KSP estimates the closure will last two to three hours.

Trooper Ben Sawyer is continuing the investigation. Trooper Nick Rice and Trooper Luis Palmer, KSP Collision Reconstructionists, are assisting with the investigation. Sgt. Dean Patterson, Detective Lonnie Kavanaugh, Trooper First Class John Komar, Trooper Bob Winters, CVE Officer Richard Boulduc, the South Hopkins Fire Department, Medical Center Ambulance Service, the Hopkins County Coroner’s Office, SAFE Patrol, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet assisted at the scene.

As more details are released by KSP, and after next-of-kin have been notified, look to SurfKY News for updates.

Casey Piscitelli
SurfKY News

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