By BRAD DICKERSON
GLASGOW — Heavy lines of traffic on both sides of U.S. 31E South were at a standstill as emergency officials tended to a two-vehicle accident Thursday that claimed the life of a Glasgow woman.
According to the Barren County Sheriff’s Department, a 1999 Chevy Blazer, driven by Carole V. Sneed, 69, of Glasgow, veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a 1999 Toyota Camry driven by 19-year-old Courtney M. Steenbergen.
The teenager was flown by STATCARE from the scene, which was in front of Greenleaf Nursery shortly after 1 p.m. She was in critical condition at the time, but was later pronounced dead at the University of Louisville Hospital.
“It appears from the evidence at the scene that Ms. Steenbergen was not wearing her seat belt, although it appears that Ms. Sneed was wearing her seat belt,” said Deputy Steve Runyon, who was the investigating officer. “Airbags were deployed on both vehicles.”
Sneed was transported by ambulance to T.J. Samson Community Hospital for injuries to her chest and leg, according to Runyon. She was in stable condition this morning.
“I’m not sure why she [Sneed] crossed the center line,” Runyon said. “The information that I was able to gain from Ms. Sneed, she could not advise why she crossed the center line.”
Although he was not an eyewitness to the accident, Doug Watson was at Greenleaf Nursery when it occurred.
“We just heard a hit, that was all we heard,” he said.
Allen County resident Anna Devoy was traveling on U.S. 31E with her husband, Brian, of the South Allen Volunteer Fire Department, when they came upon the scene.
Anna said her husband offered to help where he could.
“When we come on a wreck, he’ll get out and try to help,” she said.
The third vehicle in line stopped in the southbound lane was Mike Aldridge, a driver with Bowling Green’s Plumber Supply Company.
He witnessed first-hand how other motorists did what they could, including alerting EMS crews via their cellphones.
“People at both ends were stopping to check on drivers,” Aldridge said. “Emergency people responded very quickly. They were good.”
Assisting Runyon at the scene were detectives Rusty Anderson and Ann Phelps, Deputy Mike Gibbons, the Glasgow Police Department, the Glasgow Fire Department, the Haywood Volunteer Fire Department and the Barren-Metcalfe County Ambulance Service.
