Whitley deputy jailer killed in wreck

 An early morning crash Thursday claimed the life of a Whitley County deputy jailer.

Whitley County Chief Deputy Coroner Jerry Croley pronounced Jerry Wayne Powers, 61, of Williamsburg, dead at the scene about 1:20 a.m. due to massive head and chest injuries.

No drug or alcohol involvement is suspected, authorities said.

No autopsy is planned but a routine blood toxicology test will be performed, which is standard procedure for fatal accidents, Croley said.

The single vehicle crash happened about 12:30 a.m. on Ky. 92W about nine miles west of Williamsburg.

Powers was traveling east when he lost control of his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck due to a slippery roadway, Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said in a press release.

Croley said he suspects that black ice might have been responsible for the wreck because the roadway was "very slick’ when he arrived on the scene.

The vehicle overturned partially ejecting Powers from the vehicle. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, Harrell said.

While it is always a good idea to wear your seatbelt, Harrell said that he doesn’t know whether it would have saved Powers.

Whitley County Jailer Ken Mobley said that Powers would be missed.

"Jerry was a fine worker. We all thought the world of him up here," Mobley said.

"He was a real kind man. He treated all the inmates with respect. I think he will be sadly missed by the community."

Whitley County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Foley is investigating the crash. Williamsburg Police Officer Timmy Shelley, Goldbug Volunteer Fire Department, the Whitley County Coroner’s Office and Whitley County EMS all assisted at the scene.