LEX18.com

Son Of Couple Killed In Crash Reacts To Driver's Indictment

The memories of May 24, 2011 still haunt Melvin Drury, who lost his parents in a deadly crash that day in Woodford County.

The crash happened at the intersection of Falling Springs Boulevard and McCowan's Ferry Road. Drury's mother, Barbara died on the scene. His father, Bill, was taken to UK Hospital with serious injuries.

"It's been a rough year," said Drury. "First words out of his mouth were we lost your mother."

Three weeks after the crash, Bill Drury died at the hospital.

"It was just such severe injuries that he couldn't pull through."

Police said the driver of the other car involved, Cody Doan, 32, ran a red light, causing the crash.

"There's two deaths. She killed two people," said Drury.

An indictment handed down against Doan claims the accident was caused by her "using her cell phone and running a red light." She is charged with two counts of wanton endangerment.

"It's almost like drinking and driving in my book," said Drury. "I did expect it to be manslaughter. That's what concerns me the most. She gets off with a slap on the hand."

Drury said he does not want Doan to spend the rest of her life in jail. Instead, he wants her to tell her story at schools across the country, in the hopes of keeping something like this from happening again.

"Go promote not doing this to the public," said Drury. "If one life is saved that's just a miracle within itself, I think, and it does my parents justice."

Bill Drury owned a real estate business. Barbara Drury operated an antique story.

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One Killed, Another Hurt In Harrison County Crash

A Harrison County man died at the scene of the crash on Lafferty Pike. Another man was flown to UK Hospital.

The crash was so bad on Lafferty Pike, otherwise known as Kentucky 1054, Sheriff Bruce Hampton says he's never seen a car so mangled in his 37 years of service.

The man driving the car was killed. The sheriff says the car was out of control, went off the road and overcorrected into the path of truck.

The two t-boned and the truck literally tore the car in half.

Witnesses say the man in the truck was driving home from work and had to be airlifted to the UK Hospital with what the sheriff thought were non-life threatening injuries.

The sheriff doesn't know what caused the crash and plans to investigate further in the day light.

The sheriff didn't release the names of the people involved because their families hadn't been notified yet.

 

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Of The Bluegrass Give Update On Plea For Donations

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass issued an update Friday about central Kentucky's response to last week's emergency plea for donations.

"Friends of the organization, including businesses, individuals and organizations, called and clicked to pledge nearly $50,000 to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass continue to maintain our current matches (420)," said Alan Stein, retired minor league baseball executive, president of Stein Group and former Big Brother. "So far, the support has been encouraging."

Stein acknowledged significant contributions from Thomas & King, Georgetown College and the Central Kentucky Blood Center, among others. He also announced that Rick Ford at iHigh, Inc. has offered to collect one-time donations on a specially-created website: www.ihigh.com/bbbslex.

"We're off to a good start, but with a monthly operating budget of $60,000, our current financial situation remains day-to-day," said Stein. "Our biggest fundraiser, Bowl for Kids' Sake, starts next week in Madison County, and if we can make it until those county-wide events start generating donations, we're hopeful we'll be able to avoid closure."

Stein encouraged the public to assemble teams of five friends, family members, coworkers and/or classmates to hit the lanes in upcoming months to raise money for the organization.

Stein announced the hiring of a new executive director for the organization, Eric Ward. Ward is an experienced fundraiser who served as Georgetown College's athletic director and co-director of the Cincinnati Bengals Preseason Training Camp from 2002 until 2011. He is currently an adjunct professor at EKU and was previously an adjunct faculty member at both Georgetown College and Midway College. Ward holds a Master's degree in physical education and sports administration from EKU and a Bachelor's degree in education and recreation administration from Auburn University.

"We are excited to have Eric join our organization," said Stein. "And under his leadership, we will win this battle."

Stein thanked those members of the public who have made donations and encouraged others to do the same.

For information about Bowl for Kids' Sake and/or to make a donation, call 1-800-201-8797, visit www.bbbs-bluegrass.org or stop in any Central Bank location.

 

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Second KSU Student Arrested In Shooting Of KSU Basketball Player

A second KSU student has been arrested in the January shooting of a KSU basketball player.

Jarrell A. Hightower, 21, was arrested Friday. Another suspect, Garry Cooper, 20, of Chicago was arrested Thursday in the January 18 shooting of Patrick Dawson. The shooting occurred on Landings Drive in Frankfort.

Both Hightower and Cooper are charged with first-degree assault and three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. both are being held in the Franklin County Regional Jail.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and that addition charges are expected.

 

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Grand Jury Indicts Daughter Of Breathitt County Sheriff On Felony Charges

Attorney General Jack Conway announced Friday the indictment of a former employee of the Breathitt County Sheriff's department on multiple felony charges.

A grand jury indicted 36-year-old Crystal Southwood, the daughter of Breathitt County Sheriff Ray Clemons, on 28 counts of forgery and one count of abuse of public trust following an investigation by General Conway's Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI). All of the charges are Class D felonies.

The indictment charges Southwood with forging the endorsement of the Sheriff on a total of 28 checks. Twenty-six of the checks were from law offices given in payment for serving subpoenas, one for payment of a gun license and one for a calendar advertisement. Southwood was also charged with obtaining the money from the checks as a public servant and diverting it to her own use.

The Attorney General's investigation followed a referral from the state Auditor's Office. Prosecution is being handled by General Conway's Office of Special Prosecutions.

Southwood will be arraigned on February 24.

The charges against Southwood all carry a penalty of one to five years in prison each, as well as an additional penalty upon conviction of a fine up to $10,000 for each count.

 

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Woman Charged In May 2011 Versailles Crash That Killed Two

A woman police say ran a red light in a crash in Woodford County that killed a couple last year has been indicted in the case.

The accident happened on May 24, 2011 at Falling Springs and McCowan's Ferry in Versailles, when police say Cody Doan, 32, of Lawrenceburg ran a red light and slammed into Bill and Barbara Drury's Mercedes.

Barbara Drury died at the scene. Bill Drury later passed away at UK Hospital from internal injuries suffered in the crash.

Doan is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment in the case.

 

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Salvage Work At Site Of Bridge Collision To Begin

AURORA, Ky. (AP) - Work is expected to begin this weekend to remove a cargo ship and a section of a western Kentucky bridge that remains on its bow after the vessel crashed into it last week.

The U.S. Coast Guard approved a salvage plan Friday, and Lt. Ron Easley says the work is planned to start Saturday.

The Coast Guard says Foss Maritime, owner of the Delta Mariner, has brought in support vessels and technical salvage equipment to begin debris removal.

The boat hauling rocket parts struck the bridge after dark on Jan. 26, pulling away part of the span that connects Marshall County with Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Coroner Releases Name Of Lexington Woman Allegedly Killed By Her Own Son

The Fayette County coroner has released the name of a woman found in a garbage can near a Lexington business Wednesday.

On Thursday, police charged Mark Cave, 27, with the murder of his mother, Sharon Cave-Howard, 54. According to the police report, officers acting on a tip in a missing person case found the body inside a trash bin in a wooded area off Fortune Drive.

The coroner said Cave-Howard died of blunt force trauma to the head.

The police report indicates Cave told officers he intentionally caused the death of his mother on the morning of June 7. Investigators also say the Cave altered the evidence to keep police from finding it.

Cave pleaded not guilty in the case during a court appearance Friday afternoon. He faces charges including murder and tampering with physical evidence. Police say he was already in jail on unrelated charges.

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Soldier Charged In Double Slaying Gets Trial Delay

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - A court martial has been delayed for a Fort Campbell soldier charged with killing his estranged wife and her former mother-in-law.

A military judge granted a request by Sgt. Brent Burke's lawyers to postpone the proceedings, which were scheduled to begin Feb. 6 at Fort Campbell.

Burke has been charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the deaths of Tracy Burke, and her former mother-in-law Karen Comer, at a home in Rineyville in September 2007.

A civilian judge dismissed the charges against Burke after a prosecutor cited evidence problems with the case, and the military filed charges against him less than two weeks later.

Burke is also a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Tracy Burke's family.

Burke is being held in a civilian jail.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Georgetown Plant To Be Featured In Toyota Super Bowl Ad

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) - A Toyota manufacturing plant will get a moment in the Super Bowl spotlight when it is featured in a 60-second ad scheduled to run during the pregame show.

The commercial opens with scenes of Kentucky's Bluegrass countryside covered by an early morning fog. As a soundtrack of piano and strings plays, the Scott County plant in Georgetown comes into focus with a voiceover by 15-year Toyota veteran Sean Cooley.

Cooley drove his 1997 Camry 250 miles doing the filming, which took 21 hours.

Cooley told the Lexington Herald-Leader that Toyota's ad agency, Saatchi & Saatchi LA, drove around Franklin and Shelby counties "just looking for places that had character.".

The ad is scheduled to air between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. EST Sunday on NBC.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

To view the ad, click below:

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Arrest Made In January Shooting Of KSU Basketball Player

Another KSU student has been arrested in the January shooting of a KSU basketball player.

Garry Cooper, 20, of Chicago was arrested Thursday in the January 18 shooting of Patrick Dawson. The shooting occurred on Landings Drive in Frankfort.

Cooper is charged with first-degree assault and three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. He is being held in the Franklin County Regional Jail.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and that addition charges are expected.

 

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Pedestrian Hit By Car On Transy Campus

A car stuck a pedestrian at a crosswalk along North Broadway on the Transylvania University campus just before 9:30 a.m. Friday morning.

Police at the scene say the person hit was a female student at the school, and that another student was the person who hit her. They say the student in the car did not see the pedestrian, and he likely won't face any charges.

Officials say the injured student suffered head injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.

So far, officials have not yet released the name of the victim or the driver.

 

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Police Find Meth Lab Inside Whitley Co. Apartment

Police in Whitley County arrested a man after discovering a meth lab late Thursday night.

Kentucky State Police say troopers patrolling along KY-779 around 11:30 p.m. noticed a chemical odor. Investigating further, the troopers tracked the smell to an open window at an apartment building. They searched the apartment and discovered a meth lab inside.

Police arrested William L. Mays, 36, of Rockholds, and charged him with manufacturing methamphetamine and three counts of wanton endangerment.

 

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Man Escapes Injury In Rollover Crash

A man escaped injury during a rollover crash in Frankfort early Friday morning.

Deputies say the driver lost control of his car along US-127, just south of I-64, around 1:30 a.m. The vehicle hit a guardrail and rolled down a hill.

EMS and police checked out the driver at the scene.

 

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Man Robbed In Downtown Lexington

Police are investigating an overnight robbery in downtown Lexington.

Police say the victim called just after 1:30 a.m., reporting two men mugged him. Investigators say the victim told them he was walking along East High Street near Hagerman Court when two men stopped him, pressed something against his neck, and took his wallet and cell phone. The suspects ran toward the YMCA.

Officers later found the cell phone in a nearby parking lot.

Police say the suspects were both black men. One was tall with facial hair, wearing a brown jacket. The second wore a white jacket.

 

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Teen Shoots Father During Argument

A teenager shot his father during an argument in Estill County Thursday night.

Police say a man and his teenage son got into an argument at their home on Rice Station Road, just off HWY-52 west of Irvine, around 11 p.m. Investigators say the altercation started because the father refused to let the boy take a car. Police say the argument escalated outside when the teen pointed a gun at his father and fired a shot. A bullet struck the man in the leg.

Police say the teenager fled the scene, but later gave himself up to officers nearby.

EMS took the father to a local hospital for treatment. Officials say they expect he will be OK.

Investigators say the teenager told them the shot was an accident. Police say they will charge the teen with wanton endangerment.

 

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Woman Seriously Injured In Lexington Crash

Lexington police say speed and alcohol may have played a role in a crash early Friday morning.

Police say a woman driving along Richmond Road around 2 a.m. lost control of her car and slammed into a tree near the Shriners Hospital. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to cut the woman from the wreckage. EMS took her to UK Hospital, and officials called her injuries serious.

Officers say they saw no evidence that the woman tried to brake before the crash.

Police have not released the victim's name.

 

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New Information Obtained In Case Of Woman Found In Garbage Can

Court documents released early Friday morning reveal new information about the mummified body found stuffed in a garbage can Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday, police charged Mark Cave, 27, with the murder of the still unidentified woman documents indicate was his own mother. According to the police report, officers acting on a tip in a missing person case found the body inside a trash bin in a wooded area off Fortune Drive. The report indicates Cave told officers he intentionally caused the death of the victim on the morning of June 7 and that the victim was his own mother. Investigators also say the suspect altered the evidence to keep police from finding it.

The Fayette County coroner says he expects to positively identify the body Friday.

Cave faces charges including murder and tampering with physical evidence. Police say he was already in jail on unrelated charges.

 

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Child Abuse Victim's Father Speaks Out

We're learning more about the 11-month-old Lexington girl police say was abused by her stepfather. Dustin Watson was arrested Thursday morning and little Reagan Malais was sent to UK Hospital, according to her biological father.

Christopher Malais says Reagan is also recovering from a concussion and retinal bleeding - injuries he says could have been prevented.

"It's the worst feeling in the world, you can't imagine. It's kind of like losing everything you have," said Malais.

Police say the little girl's injuries happened Tuesday. How she got them are spelled out in a police reported obtained by LEX18. Malais says he knew it would happen.

"He's no good, he has a serious background and the stories I've heard personally about him led me to believe he is a danger to my children," said Malais.

He's talking about Dustin Watson, Reagan and her sister's stepfather. Watson lives with the children's mother at a home on Call Drive. It is where, according to the report, he was arrested Wednesday night and accused of shaking Reagan. According to Malais, state paperwork proves Watson should not have been near the girls.

"I knew it was going to happen, there wasn't a doubt in my mind, and I have a paper trail a mile long to prove it," said Malais, who said what's worse, is while his little girl is still in pain her mother removed her from the hospital to have her recover at home.

LEX18 checked out that part of Malais' story and talked to a hospital official who says there is no one named Reagan Malais in the hospital system.

As for Watson, he's still in the Fayette County Jail, charged with criminal abuse in the first degree.

 

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Some Of The Stories You'll See Tonight On LEX 18 News At 11... February 2, 2012

Lexington police charge a man with abusing an 11-month old baby girl. Tonight, Jennifer Hoff talked with the baby's biological father who tells us why he knew it would happen. Also, we'll give you the details of a big, Florida-to-Kentucky pill pipeline bust in Frankfort... where 28 suspects calling themselves, "The Untouchables," proved to be anything but.

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