Six injured in chain-reaction accident on KY 312 Thursday

Six people were taken to Baptist Health Corbin Thursday morning, including a 6-year-old who ejected following a chain-reaction wreck involving three vehicles on Ky. 312 in Keavy.

The initial wreck occurred about 7:15 when a GMC Yukon SUV driven by Crystal Stidham, 34, of Corbin, went out of control, crossed the centerline and struck 39-year-old Jonathan Patterson’s Toyota Camry.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Don Trosper, public affairs officer at Post 11 in London, said 6-year-old Alana Stidham was ejected from the back of the vehicle as a result of the crash.

“The child was belted in, but not properly restrained,” Trosper said.

Trosper said no citation was issued for improper child restraint because the officer did not witness the violation.

“Crystal Stidham could be charged with wanton endangerment, but, at this time, Trooper (Ryan) Loudermilk said no charges are pending,” Trosper said.

Two other children, Halia Stidham, 12, and Kaila Stidham, 9, were also in Crystal Stidham’s SUV.

As emergency personnel worked to clear the scene, a pickup truck driven by Bill McKeehan, 25, of Corbin, went out of control and struck the SUV.

Trosper said the cause of both crashes is being attributed to ice on the roadway. Neither drugs nor alcohol usage is suspected.

Ky. 312 was closed to traffic for several hours as emergency personnel worked to clear the scene.

Kentucky State Police were assisted at the scene by Whitley County EMS and Keavy Fire Department.