Published: June 22, 2009 01:58 am      

BULLETIN: Man charged with murder after fatal car wreck

A Somerset man has been charged with murder following a car wreck Sunday in which a Rockcastle County woman died.

Jose Santiayo Cuevas, 26, of East Mt. Vernon Street, was arrested and charged in the death of Shelia R. Lovell, 38, of Mount Vernon, Ky. He was also charged with second-degree operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first-degree failure to maintain required insurance, and not having an operator’s license.

Sheriff’s units responded to the wreck located approximately 12 miles north of Somerset on Ky. 39 at 2:50 p.m.

Investigation revealed that Cuevas was operating a 1997 Ford pick-up truck southbound on Ky. 39 when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed the centerline, striking a northbound 2007 Chevrolet driven by Lovell.

Cuevas was extricated from his vehicle by members of the Somerset-Pulaski County Rescue Squad and the Woodstock Fire Department. He was treated at the scene and transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by Somerset EMS. Following his release from the hospital, he was arrested and charged.

Lovell was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office.

Cuevas was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center. The investigation into the crash is continuing by the sheriff’s department’s accident reconstruction unit.