Corbin man pleads to DUI, additional charges pending from Monday wreck

A 20-year-old Corbin man has pleaded guilty to a DUI charge but police say he will face additional charges based on what happens to a passenger in the car he crashed into a tree Monday morning.

Knox County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Kaleb Chase Cobb at the scene of the single-vehicle crash that occurred on Old Barbourville Road off of the Corbin bypass about 12:30 a.m.

Deputy William Stewart, the department’s public affairs officer, said the vehicle was travelling south when Cobb lost control, left the roadway and slammed sideways into a tree trapping four people inside.

West Knox Fire Chief Daryl Baker said the collision pushed the passenger door and dashboard in and caved in the roof, trapping the front seat passenger across the front seat.

“We took the roof off and two of the three people in the back were able to stand up and get out,” Baker said. “The third had his foot trapped by a rocker panel that was pushed in. We had to move that to be able to get him out.”

Baker said extrication took approximately 12 minutes.

Corbin firefighters were called to establish a helicopter landing zone on the bypass.

The front seat passenger, identified as 21-year-old Alex Minto, was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Officials at UK said Monday that Minto is listed in critical condition.

The three passengers in the back seat were taken by ambulance to Baptist Health Corbin for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Mikey Ashurst stated in the arrest citation that when he spoke with Cobb, he could smell alcohol coming from his person.

“Subject (Cobb) stated that he had consumed alcohol before operation of vehicle,” Ashurst wrote in the arrest citation.

While no field sobriety tests were performed, Ashurst stated that a portable breathalyzer test indicated Cobb’s blood alcohol level was .038.

While that is less than the legal limit in Kentucky of .08, the legal age to consume alcohol in Kentucky is 21.

When questioned about the alcohol, Ashurst stated in the arrest citation that Cobb admitted to drinking four Corona beers earlier.

“Subject (Cobb) stated he thought he was okay to drive,” Ashurst said.

Officials with the Knox Circuit Court Clerk’s Office said Cobb pleaded guilty to the DUI charge at his arraignment Monday in Knox District Court.