Published: October 14, 2008 05:57 pm            

Road confusion may have led to fatality

Paula Davis, 50, died in

Somerset — An accident reconstruction specialist for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department believes road construction on North U.S. 27 played a role in a fatal collision Monday night in Eubank.

Paula Davis, 50, Old Somerset Stanford Road, Eubank, was pronounced dead at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Monday night.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, the crash occurred at 8:15 p.m. approximately 13 miles north of Somerset at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Skyline Drive.

According to sheriff’s reports, Davis, who was operating a 2004 Toyota, attempted to turn onto South U.S. 27 from Skyline Drive when she pulled into the path of a northbound 1998 Dodge operated by Bobby Toler, 44, West Ky. 80, Nancy.

Davis was extricated from the vehicle by the Pulaski County Rescue Squad and transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by Somerset Fire/EMS, where she was pronounced dead by the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office.

Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood said Deputy Danny Pevley, who is head of the accident reconstruction team, believes it is a possibility that the construction on U.S. 27 was a factor in the accident. Wood said Davis might have been confused about which portion of the roadway was open when she pulled out from Skyline Drive.

Wood said Pevley said all the markings, including barrels and stop signs, had been changed and appeared to be in the right position. However, Davis’s husband told investigators his wife wasn’t familiar with the road changes.

“Looking at the direction the vehicle was traveling at the time of the accident it looks as if the construction played a part in the accident,” Wood said.

“It appears her confusion of the roadway played a vital part in the accident,” the sheriff added.

Bill Chaney, project engineer with the District 8 State Highway Department, said Tuesday he agrees with the sheriff’s department that all the correct markings and signs were in place.

“We express our deepest sympathy to those who lost their loved one in the accident,” he added.

Assisting at the scene of the accident was the Eubank Fire Department.

The investigation is currently continuing by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Accident Reconstruction Team.

Toler was transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by a private vehicle.

Susan Ramsey Wilson, community relations director for Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, said Toler was treated in the emergency room and not admitted to the hospital.

Just hours later on Tuesday morning, a Eubank man was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center following a two-vehicle accident.

The accident occurred at 6:04 a.m. 10 miles north of Somerset on U.S. 27, in Eubank.

Upon investigation, the sheriff’s department found that a 2002 Ford Taurus operating by William T. Conley Jr., 24, 425 Floyd Switch Estesburg Road, Eubank, was making a left turn from Floyd Switch Estesburg Road, to go north on U.S. 27 when his vehicle entered the path of a 2002 Kia Rio being operated northbound on U.S. 27 by Aaron R. Floyd, 35, 1838 Nelson Valley Road, Science Hill.

Floyd was treated at the scene by Somerset Fire/EMS and transported directly to the helipad located at located at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and airlifted by LifeNet to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Conley did not report any injuries at the scene and left by private carrier.

According to the University of Kentucky spokesperson, Floyd was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday.

Assisting at the scene was Eubank Fire Department and Pulaski County Rescue Squad.

        

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