Bourbon County Middle School’s first day back after the Memorial Day Holiday was a somber one. It was the first day back after a tragic car wreck claimed the life of one of their fellow classmates.
13-year-old Emily Sams was killed in a car crash Saturday morning. The crash occurred on I-64 in Scott County, Kentucky. Emily, along with her mother and father, were in their pickup truck when a Camry ran off the road, overcorrected, and struck the Sams’ vehicle. Both vehicles rolled and Emily was ejected.
The Scott County Coroner told LEX 18 that Emily was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Her mother is in critical condition at UK hospital and her father appears to be stable. Those in the Camry were not injured.
While the holidays are often a time to celebrate, this tragedy serves as a reminder to operate our vehicles in the safest manner possible. Although it appears that driver error is to blame here, a full and complete investigation is required to determine if any other potential causes, such as mechanical failure or defective equipment, played a role. If it is determined that the driver of the Camry was not operating his vehicle with reasonable care, he may be liable under a theory of negligence for the damages he caused.
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