NARCAN needed to revive two passed out in vehicle near Corbin

Authorities had to use NARCAN to revive Rae Smith and Zachary Asher Monday afternoon near Corbin.

A Gray man and a Barbourville woman had to be revived with NARCAN after apparently passing out inside a vehicle near Corbin Monday afternoon that was still in gear when police found them unconscious.

About 4:45 p.m., Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies Claude Hudson and John Luttrell responded to a report about the unresponsive couple on Kelly Road.

When the deputies arrived, they observed Zachary P. Asher passed out at the steering wheel with the engine running and the vehicle in gear. Asher was holding a used syringe in his hand. Deputies also observed Rae D. Smith passed out in the passenger seat of the vehicle. A used syringe was also found inside her pocket, according to a sheriff’s department release.

Hudson and Luttrell tried several times to wake the two individuals.

Knox County EMS also responded to the location and couldn’t revive either Asher or Smith without the use of NARCAN, which is a drug used to revive someone who is in a near death state as the result of a drug overdose, the release noted.

Asher was administered NARCAN through an injection, and Smith through a nasal spray.

Inside the vehicle, deputies found an upside down ALE-8 can with a white residue, which is suspected to be heroin, inside the dip on the bottom of the can. In addition, several used syringes and a plastic bag of marijuana were also found in the vehicle, according to the release.

The ALE-8 can, syringe and suspected heroin were allegedly found in a vehicle outside Corbin Monday afternoon.

Asher and Smith were transported to Baptist Health Corbin where they were treated and released.

Asher, 25, and Smith, 24, were charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Asher was also charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

Both were lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.

Both were also charged with menacing and public intoxication in connection with an unrelated case.

Asher is being held in jail in lieu of a $7,500 cash bond and Smith in lieu of a $2,500 cash bond. Both are scheduled to appear in Knox District Court on Sept. 26, according to the detention center’s website.