Published: April 05, 2007 08:52 am      

Woman dies in Ky. 80 wreck

One large truck knocked car into path of another

A Somerset woman was killed in an accident yesterday morning that involved two semi trucks and a Geo Tracker.

Marcy A. Higgins, 31, Public Road, Somerset, was pronounced dead at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by the Pulaski County Coroners Office following the crash which occurred at 6:46 a.m. at the intersection of Price Valley Road and East Ky. 80, approximately 13 miles east of Somerset.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, investigation at the scene revealed that Donnie L. Massey, 55, of London, Ky., was operating a 2002 Peterbilt combination semi truck and trailer loaded with coal and was headed west on East Ky. 80, when he struck the 1996 Geo Tracker being driven by Higgins in the rear.

At the time, Higgin’s vehicle was rear-ended, it was sitting stationary on East Ky. 80 at the intersection of Price Valley Road waiting to make a left turn. After the initial impact, the vehicle then crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and was struck head-on by an eastbound 2007 Freightliner truck driven by Ronald Crowe, 57, of Nashville, Tenn.

Higgins and three passengers in her vehicle, Deanna Bowles, 11, Dakota Lee, 10, and Samantha Bowles, 14, all of Public Road, Somerset, were treated at the scene and transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by the Somerset Pulaski County Fire/EMS.

Deanna Bowles was later airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center by Life Net, while Higgins was pronounced dead.

Pulaski County Coroner Richard New said that the cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the chest area. No autopsy will be performed.

A spokesperson for the University of Kentucky Medical Center said that Deanna Bowles was in serious condition at press time last night.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital said both Samantha Bowles and Dakota Lee were treated in the emergency room and released.

Following the accident, Massey was cited for his Semi Truck being overweight by 7,050 pounds by Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement.

Assisting at the scene was Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement, Shopville Fire Department, Somerset Pulaski County Rescue Squad, Somerset Pulaski County Haz-Mat Team, Pulaski County Public Safety Director, Kentucky State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Environmental Protection Agency.