Published: May 18, 2007 08:39 am      

Man airlifted to UK Medical Center after 2-vehicle wreck in Ferguson

Five people — including a local resident who was airlifted from the Somerset hospital to the University of Kentucky Medical Center — were injured in a head-on collision in Ferguson yesterday.

The operator of one of the vehicles, William Ping, 28, Jacksboro Street, is listed in serious condition, a spokesman at the Lexington hospital said late Thursday afternoon.

The accident occurred at 12:11 p.m. at the intersection of Murphy Avenue and Emery Street. Two vehicles collided head-on when a red 1996 Honda Passport, traveling north on Murphy, attempted to turn left onto Emery.

The Passport, operated by Ping, pulled into the path of a 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup, traveling south on Murphy, said Ferguson police chief D.J. Davis.

Ping’s vehicle overturned and had extensive damage to the front area, including the passenger’s side where 4-year-old Cabryn Ping was buckled in a car seat.

Davis said the child was fortunate to escape with minor injuries. If the youngster had not been securely buckled in, “No way would he have survived that crash,” the officer speculated.

William Ping was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, Davis noted.

Injured in the Dakota pickup were driver Walter Bryd, 50, Fox Haven, Somerset, and his two passengers Juan Duarte, 26, Hall Street, and Noe Laines, 28, Bellwood Drive, Somerset. None of the occupants in Bryd’s vehicle was wearing seat belts, Davis said.

All five were treated and transported by Somerset Fire/EMS to Lake Cumber-land Regional Hospital. Duarte was still being treated in the ER at press time, while Bryd, Laines and Cabryn Ping were treated and released, a spokesperson at the Somerset hospital said.

The Ferguson Fire Department, Pulaski Cou-nty Sheriff’s Department and Somerset Police Department assisted at the scene.