Published: March 10, 2009 12:00 pm      

Man airlifted after wreck

Sheriff’s deputies cite speed as cause of head-on collision

The speed limit signs on Hammock Road say 20 mph, but James Hill, who lives at 845 Hammock Road, said many drivers pay no attention to the signs as they travel across the narrow, hilly roadway off of Lily Road.

Friday morning, Hill said he was a witness when a Pontiac Grand Prix and a minivan collided head-on, resulting in one person being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center and two others being transported to Saint Joseph-London.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Greg Poynter said Lynn Smith, 25, lost control of the Pontiac while traveling east on Hammock Road, striking the minivan driven by Lora Allen.

“He was going too fast, lost it and started to spin,” Poynter said. “You can see where he hit the windshield. If it wasn’t for the airbag, he would have went through it.”

A UK public relations person said Smith was in fair condition Friday evening.

Poynter said Allen and her mother, Irene Hicks, were taken to Saint Joseph- London. Sharon Hershberger, public relations director at Saint Joseph, said Allen and Hicks were in stable condition.

Hill said he lobbied to get the speed limit on the road reduced because of the children, including his 12-year-old daughter, who ride their bikes on the road. However, the signs are routinely ignored, except by people who make a point of stealing them.

Hill brought up the speeding problem to Poynter, who said he understands, but given how narrow the road is and the culverts on either side, there is little deputies can do regarding speed enforcement.

“There is no place for us to sit to run radar,” Poynter said.

Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and the Lily Fire Department.

Staff writer Dean Manning may be reached at dmanning@sentinel-echo.com.