Alcohol is a suspected contributing factor in a late Sunday evening accident along I-75 near Corbin that later claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl, according to a Kentucky State Police press release.
Whitley County E-911 notified Kentucky State Police at Post 11 in London about the wreck at 11:18 p.m.
The Corbin Police Department was already on the scene of the two-vehicle accident, which occurred near the 26-mile marker in the northbound lanes.
Preliminary information indicated that both units were traveling north on I-75 when a 2011 Kia Sportage, which was operated by Michael J. Stout, 43, of Indiana, struck a 49.6cc Rogue Scootstar moped, according to the release.
The moped was occupied by Darius L. Wade, 31, of Lexington, and a 10-year-old juvenile
Both Wade and the juvenile were transported to Baptist Health Corbin via ambulance. Both were then flown by Air Evac Lifeteam emergency medical helicopter to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, according to the release.
At the U.K. Medical Center, the 10-year-old female succumbed to her injuries sustained in the collision. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office pronounced her deceased.
Authorities haven’t released her name.
Stout is not believed to have been injured during the accident.
Toxicology testing was done on the drivers of both vehicles, which is standard procedure during fatal accident investigations.
“Alcohol is a suspect(ed) contributing factor in this accident,” the release stated.
KSP Post 11 Public Affairs Officer Scottie Pennington said that although alcohol is a suspected contributing factor, authorities don’t know whether the level of the suspected alcohol use reached the level of impairment.
At present no charges have been filed.
It is expected to take several weeks or possibly a few months before the blood toxicology results are complete. At that point, the investigating officer will consult with the commonwealth attorney’s office and decide whether to present the case to the grand jury for possible consideration.
KSP Trooper Arron Jones is continuing the investigation. He was assisted by the Corbin Police Department, Corbin Fire Department, Air Evac, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office, Whitley County EMS, Whitley County Emergency Management, the Kentucky Highway Department, Oak Grove and Woodbine volunteer fire departments, and other agencies.
