The Kentucky State Police is investigating a single-vehicle, fatality collision that occurred on the Pennyrile Parkway, between the 53 and 54 mile-marker, on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at 6:52 a.m.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Cody W. Allen, 22, of Madisonville, KY, was operating a 2000 Ford Explorer southbound on the Pennyrile Parkway when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled into the median where it began to overturn. The vehicle continued to overturn across both northbound lanes. It exited the roadway and came to rest upright off the northbound side of the road.
Mr. Allen was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. Mr. Allen was transported via ambulance to Baptist Health Madisonville where he was pronounced dead by the Hopkins County Coroner, Dennis Mayfield. One passenger in the vehicle, Thomas W. Hawkins, 22, of Hanson, KY, was not wearing a seatbelt and was also ejected. The other passenger, Amber A. Harrison, 20, of Henderson, KY, was wearing a seatbelt. Both Mr. Hawkins and Ms. Harrison were flown from the scene and transported to St. Mary’s in Evansville, IN for treatment.
Alcohol is a suspected factor in the collision. Trooper First Class John Komar is continuing the investigation. The Hanson Volunteer Fire Department, the Manitou Volunteer Fire Department, the Sebree Volunteer Fire Department, and Medical Center Ambulance Service assisted at the scene.