A Caldwell County woman was flown to an out-of-state hospital after crashing into a utility pole and tree on Dawson Road Wednesday afternoon.
Sheriff Don Weedman reports that deputies were sent to the 17000 block of Dawson Road for a single-vehicle collision and a roadside fire shortly before 3:30 pm.
He says a preliminary investigation revealed that 19-year old Gracie Harper was traveling eastbound at an unsafe speed when she lost control of her car, exited the road, and struck a utility pole and a tree.
According to Sheriff Weedman, Harper was extricated from the vehicle by members of Princeton Fire and Rescue so she could be treated for injuries by medics from the Caldwell County Ambulance Service. The Dawson Springs Police Department established a landing zone for Air Evac and Harper was flown to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville. Sheriff Weedman says she was listed in critical, but stable condition at midnight.
The crash reportedly severed the KU utility pole and caused the power lines to arc, igniting a fire in the ditch line of US 62 and quickly extinguished by the Princeton Fire Department.
Deputy Stacey Blackburn is investigating the collision.