Police searching for answers in wake of ATV crash; 3 injured

Police are investigating an ATV collision on Stoney Fork Road Sunday that forced officials to fly two people to trauma units for treatment.
Police say the two all-terrain vehicles collided while on the roadway, just past the turnoff from Bee Creek Road. According to Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Foley, an ATV ridden by 15-year-old Kaleb McKiddy slowed and was rammed by another ridden by Donald Miles and an unnamed female. One of the ATVs rolled over and hit a fence.
“There’s nothing I have right now that can help me draw a conclusion about what really happened,” Foley said. “I’m just getting snippets from people saying conflicting things.”
Officials with Whitley County EMS say Miles is in stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He suffered a spine fracture, a hairline fracture to his elbow and “major” facial injuries. Authorities say the woman was flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, but do not know her medical status. She suffered injuries to her head in the crash.
ATVs are non-licensed vehicles in the state of Kentucky, so accidents involving them are not investigated as rigorously as those involving licensed vehicles. Normally, only a police “incident report” is filed to document an ATV crash.
Foley said because of the severity of the accident he plans to do a more in depth investigation.
“I don’t know yet if anything criminal happened,” he said. “I’m not sure why he [McKiddy] stopped in the middle of the road. I need to talk to him to find out.”
Police did not know the woman’s full name as of press time, but said witnesses called her Angel. Because of federal privacy laws, EMS officials could not release any information about the woman.
McKiddy was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. He was taken to Baptist Regional Medical Center Sunday where he was treated and released for his injuries.