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Local man dies after slamming truck into tree in Keavy
Posted On 25 Apr 2010
A single vehicle crash in southern Laurel County late Saturday morning claimed the life of a local man.
The wreck happened shortly after 10 a.m. when a yellow 1984 Toyota pick-up truck heading north on Highway 312 left the roadway and struck a tree on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
The driver, 64-year-old Gary Johnson of Corbin, who was the sole occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene, which was about one mile north of Frosty’s Market. According to Kentucky State Police, Johnson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Alcohol or drug use are not considered factors in the crash.
Scott Hatfield, whose driveway is located less than 100 feet from the accident scene, said that he was sitting on his porch drinking a cup of coffee when the wreck happened.
"I heard him skid down through there. He had dropped off the shoulder there and over corrected and slammed into the tree," Hatfield said.
Hatfield’s wife called 911, and he ran over to check on the driver.
"I tried to get the door open from the outside, but I couldn’t. I started pulling on it and the window shattered. I reached in and was able to open it from the inside," Hatfield said. "I was talking to him the whole time, but he didn’t respond."
Hatfield said that he checked for a pulse, but couldn’t find one. By that time, his wife had come over, but she couldn’t find a pulse either.
Hatfield thinks that Johnson died instantly.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Michelle Lunsford said there were no contributing factors to the crash.
Lunsford is investigating the accident, and was assisted at the scene by the Laurel County Coroner’s Office, the London-Laurel Rescue Squad, the Keavy Volunteer Fire Department, and Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County.
Hatfield, who has lived there for four years, said that the number of wrecks on this portion of the road have increased substantially since the road was paved again about 18 months to two years ago.
He said another man, Ellis Wells, who owned The Peach Corner, also died after wrecking near his driveway.
"He dropped off the shoulder right there, hit the culvert and flipped over. I guess on impact he was ejected through the sunroof. My wife and another lady gave CRP until he passed away," Hatfield said.
Hatfield said that the first wreck he saw after the road was built up involved a gentleman from Michigan, who dropped off the edge of the road and struck a culvert next to his driveway.
"It dented his rim up real bad. I helped him get a rim and got him back on his way, but after that it has been bad wrecks since," Hatfield said.
He said that this is the ninth wreck in a year that has happed in front of his house.
"It’s that shoulder. They drop off that shoulder and they can’t get back on it," Hatfield said. "You can see all down through there where they have come through.
"They have built the road up too high. They need to do something about it or there are going to be more."
Hatfield said that he’s not sure how far the road was built up, but that at least 12 inches of asphalt are visible.
"You drop off and there is no getting back on it. If you do get back on it, you are going to over correct and shoot across the road," he said.
"There has been a dump truck wreck right here. A wrecker wreck right here. This is like the second pick-up that has hit over there. I just hope they do something about it."
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This definitely was a tragedy that should never have happened. We have been Garys’ neighbors for more than 20 years. He was a friend to so many and someone I would have had but good things to say about. A great man, father and grandfather. It was so frequent that I would see him pass my house with his grandaughter in the stroller. This was such a loss.
This is a horrible accident and it is a shame it could have been prevented. The state or county police should have to file something with the state when there have been 1 too many accidents in one area. Is there anyone someone could contact to get this fixed. Maybe if we squeek loud enough -they will have to do something?
This was a horrible accident that did not need to happen. The Johnson family are suffering terribly and it is completely unnecessary. Something needs to be done about that road. If it had been a member of the road commisioners family that had died there they would have it fixed in no time. Gary was a wonderful man who will be sadly missed.
I send my prayers out to the johnson family. I have known gary for years and he is one of the kindest gentlest men u would ever have the pleasure of meeting. The man would give u the shirt off his back if u needed it. It’s so sad his life was cut short because of a road that wasn’t repaired right. RIP gary We Love You.
If it were my family member died on an unsafe road. I would want the vehicle image splashed everywhere! I would want as many people to see the consequences of the state/local government not fixing it properly. Sometimes that’s the only way things get corrected. Other wrecks have happened in this very spot and someone else was killed. How many images do they have to see before it’s fixed? I saw no problem with the photo and I applaud the newspaper for showing it so maybe it will bring awareness and get a dangerous road fixed.
I think the coverage of this story is tasteless, heartless, and undignified. The story would have been sufficient without a picture of the actual wrecked vehicle. I can only imagine what his family must be going through. Now, they must see this lapse in journalism splattered across this website. I must question the integrity and journalistic ethics of the contributing journalist, editor and publisher.
I have complained to the state about it a few times but nothing ever gets done.
they put too much blacktop down and didnt every take the road down none. now if you drop a tire off you cant get back on at all and it is horrible. the state needs to do something about it soon!!!!!
this is a real tradegy the truck looked awfully torn up. i think they should fix that curve especially if it’s making people wreck so much. I send my sympathy to the family it’s a tradegy he had to die the way.
I send my sympathy out to all his family. It sounds like yes they do need to do something to this road and or this area of road. You would think they would use common sense ! If family needs anything I would be glad to help with anything I can. Anita mccune