Two men killed in crashes

By Stephanie Ockerman - Managing Editor

May 16, 2008 12:09 pm

— Limited visibility due to fog was likely a factor in an early morning crash on I-64 Tuesday that killed a Salt Lick man, according to police.
A second fatality occurred early Wednesday morning on Jones Ridge Road in Rowan County.
Kentucky State Police said Denzil Hurt, 55, of Clay City, was operating a 2004 Freightliner tractor-trailer west on I-64 at 4:30 a.m. on May 13 when he struck a westbound 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Kenneth R. McKenzie, 49, of Salt Lick. Police said McKenzie was stopped due to another earlier crash on westbound I-64 that was being cleared and investigated by the Owingsville Police Department.
After striking McKenzie’s car, the tractor-trailer slid across the median into the eastbound lanes, police said.
The roadway was closed both eastbound and westbound from approximately 4:30 to 10:45 a.m.
McKenzie was pronounced dead at the scene by Bath County Coroner Robbie Powell at 5:20 a.m.
Hurt and his passenger, whose name was not available, were transported to St. Claire Regional Medical Center where Hurt was treated and released. The passenger was admitted in serious but stable condition.
Seat belts were in use by all occupants in both vehicles, police said.
In Wednesday’s fatality, KSP said Joel B. Patterson, 25, of Waco, Ga., was operating a black 1995 GMC Sierra pickup truck south on Jones Ridge at 12:53 a.m. when he allegedly failed to negotiate a curve and struck an embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn and strike a fence where it came to rest.
Patterson was ejected from the vehicle after striking the embankment causing the fatal injuries, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt at 1:12 a.m. “The cause of death was head and chest trauma,” Northcutt said.
A passenger, Jeremy C. Ballew, 24, of Slab Camp Road, Morehead, was not injured. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt, police said.
Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the accident, according to police.
Trooper Chad Wagner continues the investigation.