Published: December 29, 2008 09:52 pm      

Man killed in Rowan collision

One of 10 holiday fatalities statewide

MOREHEAD — A Bath County man killed Sunday in a head-on collision on U.S. 60 in Rowan County was one of 10 who died on Kentucky’s roadways during the Christmas holiday period.

Michael Lucas, 20, of Owingsville, was pronounced dead at the accident scene by Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt, Kentucky State Police at Morehead said.

The collision occurred about 3:25 a.m. According to the KSP, a 1990 Ford pickup driven by Daniel Thompson, 27, of Morehead, veered across the center line and struck Lucas’ 2000 Ford Mustang head-on.

Thompson was taken to St. Claire Regional Medical Center and later transferred to University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was listed in critical, but stable condition, the KSP said. A passenger in the Thompson vehicle, Matthew Crouch, 23, of Pikeville, also was taken to St. Claire.

Ten separate fatal accidents occurred during the KSP’s Christmas reporting period, which ran from 6 p.m. Christmas Eve through midnight Sunday. The other mishaps occurred in Bourbon, Breathitt, Campbell, Fayette, Floyd, Jefferson, Madison, Pulaski and Wayne counties. The Jefferson County accident involved a pedestrian.

The holiday figures are still preliminary, as the KSP waits for reports to trickle in from law enforcement agencies throughout the commonwealth.

Through Sunday, 811 had been killed on Kentucky roadways during 2008, 50 fewer than in the same period last year.

Of the 628 motor vehicle fatalities, 391 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the 89 motorcycle fatalities, 53 were not wearing helmets. Twenty-three have been killed in ATV crashes and 21 of those were not wearing helmets. Sixty-five pedestrians have been killed. A total of 174 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.