Corbin men recovering after car crashes into building

Two people were injured when this Chevrolet SUV crashed through the front of State Farm Insurance in Barbourville. Dewayne Wilson of Corbin, an employee at the insurance office, suffered a broken leg when the SUV ran over him.

Two Knox County men have been seriously injured following a freak accident on Friday that left a local business in shambles.

On Friday, December 30, Barbourville Police officers responded to a report of an accident where a vehicle struck the State Farm Insurance office at Union Plaza.

Upon arriving, responders found State Farm agent Dewayne “Mickey” Wilson, 49, Corbin, with his legs under a Ford Expedition SUV, driven by Roger Hughes of Barbourville. Dakota “Cody” Miller, 26, was also struck by the SUV inside the building and was pinned under a fallen wall. Before hitting the building, a Chevy Trailblazer was also hit, injuring passenger Jesse Simpson of Flat Lick.

An eyewitness to the accident, Korina Eaton said “A Ford Expedition came out of nowhere, flying. It hit what looked like a Trailblazer and then (drove) into the State Farm building.”

Wilson was sitting at his desk writing up a quote for customer Cody Miller. “We both heard two vehicles collide in the parking lot and then when we looked up we noticed the vehicle was coming toward the building,” Wilson said in an interview with The News Journal. “I was about two feet from where the SUV came through the building.”

Wilson said the SUV ran over his leg as the driver attempted to back out of the building, breaking his leg in two places.

Miller suffered more extensive injuries in the accident, having to undergo multiple surgeries in the days since the accident.

As of press time, Wilson has been released from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, but Miller remains in serious condition. Simpson was transported to Barbourville ARH Hospital where he was treated and released. Another State Farm employee was also injured in the accident, suffering minor injuries, according to a press release from the Barbourville Police Department.

Knox County Public Schools released a statement concerning Miller, who is employed at Knox County Middle School. “Cody has long been a part of the Knox Schools family since his days of being a student and basketball player. Our entire student and staff body wishes him a speedy recovery. From being a support for our students as a FRYSC at Knox Central to coaching at Knox Middle, he will be missed while he is recovering. His family is constantly in contact us with providing updates on his progress and we can’t wait for him to be able to return home.”

No charges have been filed in relation to the collision, according to Barbourville Police.

Assisting Barbourville Police in the investigation were Chief Winston Tye, Sgt. Robert Brown, Ptl. Eric Martin, Ptl. E. Broughton, Det. Steve Owens (investigating officer), Barbourville Fire Department, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.