Local charges filed in Lexington fatal crash

Published 9:49 am Friday, September 6, 2019

The suspect in a pursuit and crash that killed three people will be facing more charges, beyond driving under the influence and no operator’s license.

The crash happened around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday after a Louisville woman, identified as 42-year-old Tammy Rodriguez, struck two other vehicles while driving the wrong way on Interstate 75 near the junction with Interstate 64. Lexington Police said a truck driven by Rodriguez hit an oncoming car, killing both people inside, and a second vehicle which overturned and left its driver injured as well.

Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue Jr. said the incident started Wednesday evening on eastbound Interstate 64 for a reckless driver complaint.

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Winchester Police Capt. James Hall said the suspect’s vehicle, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, was traveling east, but turned around through the median into the westbound lanes. Hall said officers blocked all exits into Winchester but joined the pursuit as the truck passed.

Perdue said deputies terminated their pursuit well before reaching the county line.

Hall said officers continued to follow the truck into Fayette County and had contacted Lexington officials about the situation.

Once they reached the junction with Interstate 75, Hall said the truck went up the northbound on-ramp, but turned around at the end to go the wrong direction in the northbound lanes. At that point, the truck struck a Chevrolet Sonic head-on and a Jeep Cherokee, which overturned.

“Once she made that turn, we tried to alert as many other motorists as possible,” Hall said. “The (truck) caught fire and all our officers deployed fire extinguishers and removed two people from the (truck).”

A passenger in the truck, 35-year-old Debbie Lee Bevins of Pikeville and both occupants of the Chevrolet, 26-year-old Taylor Blevins and 20-year-old Caitlyn Bailey, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Lexington Police news release.

Lexington Police said more charges against Rodriguez were likely.

Hall said Winchester Police obtained warrants against Rodriguez for reckless driving, first-degree fleeing or evading police and five counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, one for each officer involved.

Rodriguez, a second passenger in the truck and the driver of the Jeep were all transported to local hospitals with injuries.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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