October 21, 2008

County Accidents Keep Deputies Busy

Accident 1:

At approximately 2:30 P.M. this afternoon the Sheriff's Department received a call to an injury accident at the intersection of John L. Puryear Drive and Interstate 24. When Deputy Ray Smith arrived he found the a single vehicle accident involving an overturned semi-tractor trailer that was hauling logs. The driver was found to be uninjured and stated that his load had shifted as he was negotiating the curve of the West bound on-ramp of I-24. The logs spilled onto the roadway causing a closure of the West bound on-ramp for approximately 3 1/2 hours. The Sheriff's Department was assisted with the closure by the Kentucky Department of Transportation and members of the Paducah/McCracken county rescue squad.

The driver of the truck was identified as 39 years old Jeffery D. Curnel of Smithland, KY.

Accident 2:

While Deputies were still on scene of the above listed accident, a second injury accident was reported at the same location. It was found on the other side of the interstate where John. L. Puryear and Husband Road intersect.

Two vehicles were traveling West bound on Puryear when according to witnesses, the front vehicle, a 1997 Mercury Sable station wagon attempted to make a U-turn. The driver of the second vehicle , a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe attempted to avoid a collision, but T-boned the passenger car in the driver's side. The driver of the station wagon, 21 year old Cathleen N. Smith of Paducah and her 6 month old child Hunter were taken to Lourdes Hospital for apparent minor injuries. The driver of the SUV, 51 year old Darrell W. Taylor of Paducah was arrested for driving under the influence. He was taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail.

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Thanks,

Sgt. Kevin Lynn

McCracken Co. Sheriff's Department