A competitor in the Kentucky Triathlon was hit and killed by a motorist during the cycling portion of the race. The driver who hit the athlete is currently in jail.
John Carr, a 47-year-old Owenton resident, was killed in a bicycle accident shortly after 8:00 AM on Saturday, August 1, 2009. According to Tom Sawyer Park officials, Carr had participated in previous races as well.
LMPD spokesperson Alicia Smiley said, “Witnesses say that that vehicle was going at a very high rate of speed and rear-ended the bicyclist killing him there on the scene.”
The vehicle left the accident scene and continued on for another half mile, but was later stopped by an off-duty police officer at the intersection of Chamberlain Lane and Collins Lane. The bicycle was still embedded inside the vehicle.
The driver was 25-year-old Kenneth Yates. He tried to resist the officer and escape by foot. The police officer did not pursue him since he had already identified him. Yates ended up running to his home, but was returned to the scene by his mother.
Yates is now facing numerous charges, including murder, DUI, operating a vehicle on a suspended license, assault on a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing and evading police, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.