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Corbin man dies in head-on crash near Richmond Friday morning
Posted On 15 Jul 2011
Remains of the van driven by Joseph Vardeman of Corbin, who died in a head on crash on I-75 near Richmond Friday. Photo courtesy of WLEX 18.
A Corbin man is dead following a head-on collision Friday morning near Richmond, Ky.
Joseph Vardeman, 38, of Corbin, Ky., was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 when his van hit an oncoming vehicle head on.
Authorities in Richmond, Ky., received several calls from nearby motorists shortly before 4 a.m. Friday reporting a vehicle traveling the wrong way in the I-75 southbound lanes near mile marker 83, said Jimmy Cornelison, Madison County’s Coroner.
The head-on collision was reported shortly after, Cornelison said. The accident backed up traffic for about four hours.
Cornelison said it’s not clear why the van was traveling in the wrong lanes, but the only conceivable explanation at this point is that Vardeman exited the entrance ramp at Duncannon Lane between Richmond and Berea.
Cornelison said he did not smell alcohol and saw no evidence of alcohol in the van, but a formal autopsy has been preformed.
Vardeman owned an interior and exterior painting and wallpapering business located in London, Ky.
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Yes there should realize the reader to RSS my feed to RSS commentary, quite simply
Mendy, you ought to get your facts straight before you report things.
I just called the Ky State Police post at Richmond and the trooper said they do not release no information pertaining to 911 calls or facts about the accident to just anyone.
New exit & no lighting? That exit has no services but is well lit from the north end to the south end including all of the ramps.
Be careful about walking up I-75. Not only is it illegal but you might get run over.
i think that all of you need to stop trying to say you know what happened when there is only one peron who knows the truth as to why he was going in the wrong direction. Your posts will not bring Amy back to us nor will they return this man to his family. If you need something to right about, please write you prayers and well wishes for Megan she is what needs everyones energy right now we do not want her family to have to experience the grief that the Vardeman and the family of Amy’s is experiencing right now. Jim if you did cross his path that night the only thing you should be thinking about is how you were not the one he ran into and you should be thanking God everynight for that in stead of saying you know what really happened
I have checked the 911 records, spoke with the investigating trooper as well. He did get on at Duncannon lane. Speed was not a factor. No one will ever know what exactly happened. Its a fairly new exit and no lighting. The impact happen extremely close to the merge area. I have walked the exit and the point of impact. He could have very well been in center lane bc he met the first car in the slow lane and moved over to center lane where he collided with megan and amy. Theres a world of difference between 100mph and 70mph. If you drive so much you know that. And by the way…none of the 911 calls mention you calling. First call of someone in wrong lane came in at 3:58 then the accident call 2 minutes later at 4am.
No, he did not have his headlights on! The only reason the car in front of me in the center lane, was barely able to avoid him, is because the Duncannon Lane interchange is very well lit at night. I drive from Chattanooga, Tn to Lexington, Ky and back five nights a week. Last night I checked the mile markers from where he passed me until the collison.
I me him at the 83.1 and he collided at approx 83.6. This is according to my speedometer in the truck. The road starts to go downhill northbound around 83.2 or 83.3, which is why I lost sight of him. Hope this helps.
Meme thanks for your concern for Megan! You can go to “prayers for 25yr old megan crawford” on facebook for daily updates on her condition
Jim did he have his headlights on when you seen him? The reason I ask is because if you met him at duncannon then you must have been simply seconds in front of Megan ( the other car in the accident )
It doesnt matter how fast he was going. He was going the wrong way and it killed himself, an innocent woman and severly injured another(which this article doesnt seem the need to report) . He could have had a condition or something happened. but noone will ever know for sure. all we know is 2 people are dead and 1 is in critical condition fighting for her life. Prayers to the families.
Since you were not there riding with him, you don’t know how fast he was going. I don’t have a radar gun so I can’t be exact on the speed. I’m sure as he was going downhill under the overpass at exit 83 he could get more speed out of it. After 38 years of professional driving & four million miles, you get a sense of vehicle speeds.
Check the 911 calls & see how fast the vehicle in front of me estimated his speed. It really doesn’t matter, 70, 80, 90, 100 MPH driving the wrong way on an interstate is absolutely crazy.
his funeral was sun and burial was monday
Jim Good, You are a liar. I used to work for him, and have driven that van man hundred miles, and it impossible for him to have been going 100mph, that van was lucky to get to 70mph…so stop your slander.
Jim when you seen him didnt he have his head lights on? And if you met him at Duncannon rd/ext 83 did you see the accident?
We are friends of the Vardeman family & we reside in Canada. I am trying to get Funeral Information Location, but couldn’t find anything in your Obituary Section…would appreciate any help you can provide,,Thankyou
We are friends of the Vardeman family & we reside in Canada. I am trying to get Funeral Information Location, but couldn’t find anything in your Obituary Section…would appreciate any help you can provide,,Thankyou
He did not get on at Duncannon lane. I met him near the southbond exit ramp. He must have got on at exit 77, because he had to be running in excess of 100 mph when he narrowly missed me. I was in the right lane and he was in the center lane going north. I called 911 & they patched me to the Kentucky State Police.