A Paducah child and Tennessee man were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 69 in Hopkins County Thursday afternoon.
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded to the crash on I-69 in the area of the 91-mile marker near Dawson Springs shortly before 5:00 and discovered two vehicles in the southbound lanes.
Deputies say according to witnesses and evidence at the crash site the investigation determined 26-year old Kara Smith of Paducah was driving northbound on I-69 when for an unknown reason, her car veered off the shoulder and into the median. Smith reportedly overcorrected into the northbound lane and lost control, causing her car to travel across the median and into the southbound lane where it collided with a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 30-year old Kevin Emily of Benton.
Deputies say Smith and one of her children were flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where they are listed in stable condition. Emily was transported by Caldwell County EMS and ultimately taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville and is also listed in stable condition.
Deputies say Smith’s other child and another passenger in her car, 31-year old Jacob Jarred of Dresden, Tennessee were pronounced deceased on the scene by Hopkins County Coroner Dennis Mayfield.
The southbound lane of I-69 was shut down for about 4 hours until a preliminary investigation was completed.
The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by multiple agencies, including the Dawson Springs and the Madisonville Police Departments, the Dawson Springs and Charleston Fire Departments, and Kentucky State Police. Deputies say first-aid and assistance were also provided by numerous Good Samaritan motorists.
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the fatal crash.
