Thursday wreck claims life of Russell Springs man

Carla Slavey, Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, Ky.
·1 min read
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Mar. 25—The Somerset Police Department responded to a wreck last Thursday which resulted in the death of a Russell Springs man.

SPD reported that Jose Fuentes-Jimenz, 72, was killed in the wreck that took place at the intersection of Ky. 914 and old Ky. 80 (the former Cumberland Parkway) in Somerset.

The wreck took place around 1:45 p.m.

Fuentes-Jimenz was a passenger in a red 2020 Chevrolet Colorado being driven by Leonardo Jimenez-Herrera, 20, of Russell Springs.

The Chevrolet was traveling on Ky. 914 and was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto eastbound Ky. 80.

Jimenez-Herrera told officers that he was sitting at a flashing yellow light and saw a semi traveling northbound on Ky. 914.

The driver said that he believed the semi had its flashers on or was slowing down, so he pulled into the intersection to turn.

As he did, his vehicle was struck by the 2011 Kenworth semi which was being driven by Eric Miller, 44, of Liberty.

The semi had an unloaded trailer attached, according to SPD.

Miller told SPD officers that he was in the left-hand lane of Ky. 914 when the Chevrolet pulled into his path. He attempted to stop his vehicle to avoid the collision, but was unsuccessful.

Witnesses at the scene stated that the semi had a green light.

Jimenez-Herrera, the driver of the Chevrolet, was flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment of "multiple injuries," according to SPD.

The passenger, Fuentes-Jimenz, was transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Assisting at the scene were the Somerset Fire Department, Somerset-Pulaski EMS, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Pulaski Coroner's Office, and the Somerset-Pulaski Special Response Team.