Kyle David Kersey
A well known Corbin attorney has been shot and reportedly died after wrecking his truck on KY 770 this morning in southern Laurel County.
Authorities responded to an accident on KY 770 near the bridge spanning the Laurel River at about 6:52 a.m. The driver, identified by Kentucky State Police as Kyle David Kersey, 56, of Corbin had apparently suffered a gunshot wound "to the torso" some time before the accident. He was driving a black Ford F-150 truck, which was found in a the ditchline just west of the bridge. He was heading toward Keavy.
Sources tell the News Journal police found a gun in his vehicle but it was not the one used in the shooting. Kentucky State Police Public Affairs Officer Don Trosper would not confirm if a gun was found in Kersey’s vehicle.
Tropser said police were led to the Hardee’s restaurant, located next to Love’s Travel Center just up the road from the accident, after finding a cup of coffee in Kersey’s truck they believe was purchased shortly before the accident.
Kersey was transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead by Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley.
The Laurel County Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the case and have not ruled out any possibilities. Kentucky State police detectives Mark Allen, David Lassiter and Donald Wilson along with Laurel County Sheriff’s Lead Investigator Charlie Loomis were at the scene. Trosper said KSP Detective Donald Wilson is the lead investigator in the case.
Kersey graduated from Corbin High School, after which he attended the University of Kentucky where he graduated with a degree in elementary education. He held credentials to teach elementary school and special education.
He went on to get his law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University and went into private practice.
In 1989 he took office as Whitley County Attorney. During his tenure as county attorney, Kersey said he was most proud of the improvements made in the collection of child support. He noted that in his first year, the county collected about $59,000 in child support. In his last year, that number was up to $1.1 million.
Kersey ran an unsuccessful campaign for district court judge in McCreary and Whitley counties in 2002.
Then candidate Kersey said a judge’s race doesn’t revolve around big political issues, but which candidate bet espouses needed qualities including common sense, fairness and consistency.
"You need to treat people with some dignity and some respect," Kersey said in the interview.
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