By BRAD DICKERSON
GLASGOW — A pickup truck hydroplaning on a wet roadway is being blamed for the multiple-fatality accident Wednesday on Interstate 65 in Hart County.
A family from Auburn – David H. McGrath, 49; his wife, Madeline K. McGrath, 52; and their daughter, Megan S. McGrath, 15 – and a mother and daughter from Elizabethtown – Myra Lawson, 51; and Cassandra Lawson, 22 – were pronounced dead at the scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office, according to the Kentucky State Police.
The crash occurred at 7:30 a.m. when the northbound 2006 Chevrolet truck driven by David McGrath hydroplaned on the slick roadway, crossed the median and struck head-on a southbound 1998 Plymouth van driven by Myra Lawson, police said.
A tractor-trailer driven by Michael Giles, 48, of Philadelphia, Miss., then hit the passenger side of McGrath’s truck.
Jennifer Lawson, 22, was in the van with her mother and twin sister. She was transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.
The McGrath family was headed to Frankfort on Wednesday as part of a 4-H Club visit, according to state Rep. Sheldon Baugh, R-Russellville, and other 4-H participants.
In Frankfort, the House and Senate held moments of silence for those killed in the wreck.
“Heaven will be a happier place with Megan,” said Katie Tyson, who was friends with Megan for three years and home schooled with her.
Katie, 13, and her mom, Debby Tyson, were among 4-H participants who were visiting the Capitol. Debby Tyson said her family home schooled with the McGraths. She said Madeleine McGrath handled dog shows for the 4-H club and taught in the home school.
The McGraths didn’t travel with other 4-H members Wednesday because they wanted to be together as a family on the trip, Debby Tyson said.
Weather proved a factor in two other accidents on I-65 in Hart County earlier this month. Trooper Todd Holder, KSP public information officer for Post 3, said hyrdoplaning caused a triple-fatality crash on March 3. A state trooper responding to that accident also hydroplaned and crashed into a tractor-trailer. He suffered minor injuries.
On Wednesday, there were 13 vehicle accidents on I-65 in Hart County, according to KSP Post 3 dispatch. Eleven were non-injury accidents, two resulted in injury and the multiple-fatality wreck.
As crews worked to clean up after the fatal crash, southbound traffic was backed up for several miles. The roadway reopened at 10:59 a.m., police said
On U.S. 31W south in Hart County, the traffic tie-up was similar to that on the Interstate.
Horse Cave Police Chief Alan Shirley was directing the traffic through the city’s lone intersection at Hwy. 218 and 31W. He began the detail at 8 a.m. and moved motorists on until noon.
“I was there at the red light and (traffic) was as far as I could see going toward Munfordville,” Shirley said. “The stop light, it would change too quick and wouldn’t let enough trucks through.”
– AP contributed to this story.
