Two charged in fatal crash that killed child early Thursday morning

A Williamsburg man and Arizona woman are facing multiple charges, including murder, in connection to a fatal crash that occurred on I-75 early Thursday morning in Whitley County.

The crash occurred just after midnight in the southbound lane of I-75 near the 17-mile marker. According to a release from the Kentucky State Police, a 2017 Ford Edge operated by either Matthew Paul Croley, 34, of Williamsburg, or Jayna Ann Vorwerk, 22, of Chandler, Arizona, struck a 1996 GEO Tracker. Both vehicles were traveling southbound when the crash occurred.

The GEO Tracker sustained heavy damage during the crash, which required the driver, identified as Alexis Brianna Flores, 25, of Flat Lick, to be extricated from the vehicle. Flores was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment of sever injuries.

Flores had four juvenile passengers with her, one of which was ejected from the vehicle during the crash, receiving fatal injuries. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.

The other three children sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Baptist Health Corbin for treatment. 

A third, unnamed passenger in the Ford Edge was not injured.

According to arrest citations obtained from the Whitley Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, another driver at the scene told police that they had witnessed the collision. The witness stated they were driving northbound in the left lane attempting to pass a slower vehicle in the in the right lane when  the Ford Edge attempted to pass them and collided with the rear end of the GEO Tracker.

Vorwerk allegedly told police that she had been driving the vehicle when the crash occurred, according to the citation, and she had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her. She agreed to take a breath test at the scene, which allegedly showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .157. The citation claimed Vorwerk told police she had only had one mixed drink.

Vorwerk was placed under arrest at that time.

As Vorwerk was being put into a police cruiser, Croley allegedly told police that he was actually driving the vehicle and asked them not to arrest Vorwerk, according to the citations. Croley stated that he had threatened Vorwerk so that she would say she was driving at the time the crash occurred. He allegedly stated multiple times that he was intoxicated and that’s why he was trying to get Vorwerk to take the blame.

Both Croley and Vorwerk have been charged with murder, first-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. 

The pair was arraigned in Whitley District Court Thursday afternoon, where not-guilty pleas were entered on their behalves. Both currently remain jailed in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of separate $1 million cash bonds.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Monday at 9 a.m.

KSP is continuing an investigation into the crash.

Williamsburg Police Department, Williamsburg Fire Department, Corbin Police Department, Corbin Fire Department, Goldbug Volunteer Fire Department, Whitley County EMS and Air Evac assisted at the scene.