Columbia (Adair County) Kentucky Car Accident Inolved DUI
There is a preliminary report of an injury car wreck over the weekend near Columbia, Kentucky in Adair County. The Lexington Herald-Leader is reporting that the auto accident, which resulted in unknown injuries to one of the motorists which required EMS transportation to the hospital, was caused by another driver who was driving under the influence.
According to Vanessa Cantley, a Kentucky lawyer who handles auto accident injury cases, "impaired drivers kill 13,000 people each year in the U.S. In Kentucky alone last year, there were approximately 6,000 alcohol-related car wrecks, resulting in over 2,200 injuries and 182 deaths."
Police say 49 year old Gwen Beckwith of Jamestown, Kentucky was driving northbound on Kentucky 55 in an area local residents call Hardscratch, between Columbia, Kentucky and Lake Cumberland.
Meanwhile, at about 8:30 a.m., 41 year old Glenn S. Mitchum, of Columbia, Kentucky, was leaving the Hardscratch General Store when he pulled out in front of Ms. Beckwith's Pontiac, which struck Mr. Beckwith's car and then crossed the road and struck a telephone pole on the opposite side.
As is often the case with drunk drivers, the DUI driver who caused the wreck was not injured, even though Mr. Mitchum was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt. According to police, he was charged with driving under the influence and was taken to the Adair County Regional Jail.
Ms. Beckwith, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Westlake Regional Hospital. The extent of her injuries were not included in the initial report.
