Kentucky State Police released details Friday of a fatal wreck that occurred Monday on Interstate 24 in Lyon County.
Kentucky State Police Post 1 Public Information Officer Trooper Adam Jones states just after eleven Troopers responded to reports of a two-vehicle accident involving a vehicle fire on the eastbound lanes of I-24 near the 44-mile marker. He adds preliminary investigation shows a 2003 Ford Mustang, operated by 29-year-old Jose Antonia, of Whitehouse, Tennessee, had entered I-24 at Exit 45 traveling the wrong way causing the vehicle to collide head-on with a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, operated by 45-year-old Aaron Durham, of Cairo, Illinois, with Durham’s vehicle catching fire as a result of the collision.
Trooper Jones reports a passenger in Durham’s vehicle, 11-year-old Christian Durham, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Lyon County Coroner.
Durham and three other juvenile passengers, as well as Jose Antonia, were transported to Mercy-Health Hospital in Paducah by Lyon County EMS. All occupants were wearing their seat belts at the time of the collision and KSP is still investigating the incident.
The eastbound lanes of I-24 were closed for approximately four hours as crews worked to clear the scene and reconstruct the accident.
Kentucky State Police was assisted at the scene by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Lyon County Rescue Squad, Lyon County EMS, Lyon County Coroner’s Office, Caldwell County EMS, and Eddyville Police Department.
