Williamsburg man found dead in wrecked vehicle Thursday afternoon

Authorities are still trying to determine what caused a single vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Williamsburg man, whose body was found Thursday afternoon in his wrecked vehicle about 100 yards from the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and US25W.

Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced Dustin R. Faulkner, 30, dead at the scene about 2:30 p.m.
Croley said that Faulkner died of multiple injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. No autopsy was ordered, but a routine toxicology test will be performed on Faulkner’s blood, Croley said.

Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said that the accident apparently happened sometime early this morning, but because of the location wasn’t reported until Thursday afternoon.

A pedestrian spotted the 2001 black Nissan Xterra about 75 to 100 feet down an embankment and flagged down Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnny Miller, who was driving by, Jackson said.

Miller contacted Williamsburg police, who then found Faulkner’s body inside the vehicle, which was found on its top down the embankment.

The Williamsburg Fire Department and two wrecker services worked to turn the vehicle upright so the body could be removed.
Emergency officials used a winch from the vehicle of Whitley County Emergency Management Director Danny Moses to pull the body back up the embankment in a stoke’s basket.

Emergency officials had to shut down US25W for about an hour as they removed the vehicle.

"Any time you have a fatality accident in a smaller town like this where everybody knows everybody it is very unfortunate," Jackson said. "It is very unfortunate for the family and the friends.

"It is one of those situations that nobody wants to have to deal with, but unfortunately at times we do. Our hearts go out to the victim’s family."

Jackson said that officials are unsure what caused the wreck, and that there was no evidence on the roadway, such as skid marks, to indicate why the vehicle left the road.

"It did appear that the vehicle left the roadway, and struck a tree," Jackson said. "It then appeared to flip over the embankment coming to final rest on property adjacent to the Cumberland River.

"It appears this collision occurred at a time when there weren’t many people around. We hadn’t received any calls on it throughout the day."

Croley, Williamsburg Police Detective Bobby Freeman and Chief Wayne Bird are still investigating the case.

"We don’t know what caused it," Jackson said. "It is definitely unusual circumstances. First of all it had been there for a while and we didn’t get any calls. There appeared to be no skid marks or disturbed gravels. It was a tragic accident."

Faulkner’s driver’s license listed his address as Little Patterson Creek Road, but Jackson said that he had been residing at Cumberland Heights Apartments on Cemetery Road, Jackson said.

The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky State Police also assisted with the investigation.