Two airlifted following Tuesday morning wreck in Lily

Two people were airlifted from the scene of a head-on collision involving a truck and a Jeep Wrangler Tuesday morning in Lily.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said the driver and passenger in the GMC Sierra pickup, 44-year-old Champion Richmond of London, and 54-year-old James Wells of Somerset, were airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Acciardo said the wreck occurred about 8:20 a.m. on U.S. 25  just north of Laurel Whitley Road.

The Jeep, which was travelling north, failed to stop for a Pontiac Grand Prix attempting to turn left off of U.S. 25. The Jeep struck the Grand Prix, and crossed the centerline, striking the pickup truck, trapping Richmond and Wells inside.

Lily and West Knox firefighters along with the London/Laurel County Rescue Squad were called to extricate the duo.

Officials at UK said Wells is listed in fair condition. No updated was available on Richmond.

Acciardo said the driver of the Jeep was 23-year-old Justin Adams of Gray.

Adams was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital in London.

The Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 63-year-old David Kelly of London, received minor damage.

Acciardo said Kelly was attempting to turn left into a parking area for a mobile home when Adams came down the hill on U.S. 25.

“He was just moving so fast that he couldn’t stop,” Kelly said. “He slid about 150 feet.”

Tonya Chambers, who lives nearby, said that wrecks such as this one occur too frequently.

“The sound was just so loud,” Chambers said of the collision adding a small fire broke out underneath the truck.

The road was closed to traffic until 9:35 a.m.

Deputy Brandon Broughton is continuing the investigation

Laurel County Sheriff’s Capt. Chuck Johnson, Sgt. Brett Reeves, and Deputy Daniel Grigsby, Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and Air Methods assisted at the scene.