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Lexington’s First Traffic Death of 2011 Attributed to Winter Weather

January 11, 2011 - Lexington, KY - Lexington Police have released information on the first fatal traffic accident in Lexington for the 2011 year.

Reports from Kentucky.com reveal the details of the fatal wreck that took place on Leestown Road near Leesway Drive late in the evening on January 7. The victim, Julie Reeves, 32, of Morehead, was the passenger of a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck.

The driver of the pickup lost control and crossed over into oncoming traffic, hitting a UPS tractor trailer head on. The driver of the UPS truck attempted to brake but was unable to do so because of the snowy conditions on the road. He was uninjured.

Reeves was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Fayette County Coroner's Office later released reports that she died from blunt force trauma. The driver of the pickup truck was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Several other minor accidents were reported around that time because of icy conditions. At least 7 other vehicles were involved in crashes between Leestown Road and Georgetown Road exits. A multiple-car pileup was reported 2 miles from the fatal crash, on New Circle Road.

Poor weather conditions can drastically increase the chances of fatal or serious injury in car accidents. Drivers should take extreme care when traveling on snowy or icy roads and be extra careful to watch for the behavior of other drivers. If you are involved in a Kentucky car accident, contact an experienced Lexington car accident attorney as soon as possible to file a personal injury claim.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2009 Kentucky Crash Statistics, there were 791 fatalities as a result of traffic accidents in Kentucky. While this was a 4% drop from 2008, fatal traffic accidents still occur and can be devastating to a family.

As a service to the residents of Louisville, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in the Louisville area that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to: 

• single-vehicle accidents;
• accidents caused by hazardous road conditions;
• accidents caused by aggressive driving or distracted drivers; and
• accidents caused by defective or improperly maintained equipment. 

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request. 

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