Staff report
MUNFORDVILLE — One child was killed and several other persons were injured Sunday in a chain-reaction wreck on Interstate 65 in Hart County.
Jonathan Eastman, 6, of Gallatin, Tenn., was pronounced dead at the scene by Hart County Coroner Jeffrey L. Roten on Sunday afternoon after four vehicles collided in the northbound lanes of the interstate near mile-marker 58.
Michael R. Pope, 60, of Sanford, Fla., was driving a 2009 Freightliner north in the right lane of I-65 when he saw traffic stopped because of construction on the road ahead. He immediately changed to the left lane to avoid traffic, but vehicles were also stopped there, according to a Kentucky State Police report of the incident.
Pope’s tractor-trailer struck a 1999 Mitsubishi in the rear. The car was driven by Misleni Eastman, 33, of Gallatin, Tenn., and was carrying two passengers, the 6-year-old who was killed and Gracie Eastman, 5, also of Gallatin, Tenn. The Freightliner overrode the back of Eastman’s vehicle and forced it into the back of a 1999 Honda driven by Larry Meherg of Loudonville, Ohio. Kirstin Shearer and Aaron Meherg, both also of Loudonville, Ohio, were passengers in the vehicle.
Meherg’s vehicle then struck the back of a 2006 BMW driven by Anne Francisco, of Pikeville. The Freightliner and Mitsubishi, which continued to travel northbound in the emergency lane, also collided with Francisco’s vehicle before coming to a final stop after striking the barrier cables. Meherg’s Honda came to final rest at the northbound right-side guardrail and Francisco’s BMW stopped in the left lane northbound.
Pope was not injured in the wreck. Misleni Eastman was life-flighted to University of Louisville Hospital. The patient’s condition was unavailable at press time. Gracie Eastman was life-flighted to Kosair Children’s Hospital and is listed in the intensive care unit. Larry and Aaron Meherg and Shearer were transported to T.J. Samson Community Hospital where they were treated and released. Francisco was treated and released at the scene.
KSP Trooper Ronnie Reynolds investigated at the scene. He was assisted by troopers Mike Hatler and James Newkirk, officer Steve Burke, Horse Cave and Munfordville fire departments, Hart County Emergency Medical Service, STATCARE, Carey McDaniel with Emergency Management and the Horse Cave Police Department.
All drivers and passengers involved in the collision were wearing seatbelts. The investigation is ongoing.
