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A local state representative who serves all of Whitley County and a portion of Laurel County is in critical condition today after suffering a head injury Tuesday morning.
Dewayne Bunch, 49, a teacher at Whitley County High School, who also serves as 82nd District State Representative in the Kentucky General Assembly, was trying to break up a fight in the cafeteria at the high school Tuesday morning when the incident ocurred. When EMS personnel arrived, Bunch was unresponsive and bleeding from his ears.
Bunch was transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center for treatment. According to Whitley County Schools Superintendent Scott Paul, Bunch was going to be moved to a hospital in Lexington.
"It’s not good. It doesn’t look good," Paul said. "I’m dealing with his family right now. This is a bad situation."
Whitley County High School Resource Officer David Lennon said officials are currently investigating the incident and aren’t sure exactly how Bunch was injured.
"We are in the very early stages of the investigation right now," Lennon said. "We should know more later."
According to Lennon, who also serves as a Deputy for the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, the students involved in the fight are still at the school and no one has yet been arrested.
A news release from Paul stated the following: "A conflict between two male students early this morning in the Whitley County High School cafeteria resulted in the injury of a teacher. Veteran science and math teacher and State Representative Dewayne Bunch was attempting to break up the altercation when he was injured and taken by ambulance to the Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin, KY. The incident is being investigated by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. Further details will follow."
Bunch, a Republican, took office in January after defeating long-time State Rep. Charles Siler in last May’s Primary Election.
Check back often to thenewsjournal.net/ for more details as they become available.
