LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — A man who had gotten out of his vehicle on Interstate 75 early Saturday morning to secure his truck was killed instantly by a drunk driver.

Around 4 a.m. Officer Mike Hamblin and Sgt. Greg Reams with the Kentucky State Police-Vehicle Enforcement responded to the fatality near the 30-mile marker in Laurel County.

 Officers discovered 49-year-old Howard M. White of Bagdad, Ky., was operating a 2000 white Ford roll back wrecker when he stopped in the emergency lane to see if his load was secure. While outside his vehicle, a 2008 white Ford box truck, operated by 24-year-old Austin T. Meredith of Sevierville, Tenn., crossed the fog line striking White and the parked wrecker. Two passengers were in wrecker at the time of the collision but were not injured.

 Further investigation found Meredith under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. He was arrested and charged with murder, DUI, wanton endangerment, and several commercial vehicle violations, and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.

 Sgt. Reams said alcohol was a direct factor in the collision.

 Assisting at the scene were CVE Officers Jerry Jones and Hamblin, KSP Trooper Justin Oliver, and KSP Sgt. Steve Walker.

Sgt. Reams continues the investigation.

This is the 10th motor vehicle fatality in Laurel County since January 1. In 2011 there were only eight motor vehicle fatalities in Laurel County for the whole year.

While emergency workers attempted to clear the accident, another intoxicated driver nearly struck three firefighters on the scene.

Sgt. Greg Reams received a report of a driver who barged through the barricaded area of the fatal accident, in which three volunteer firefighters narrowly avoided being hit.

The driver, 53-year-old Winchester K. Eldred of Marietta, Georgia, allegedly accelerated through the road closure, running over cones and nearly hitting three West Knox Volunteer Fire Department workers who were assisting with traffic control.

After Reams stopped the vehicle, he determined Eldred was intoxicated and placed him under arrest. Eldred is now charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, disorderly conduct, no insurance, disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic, third-degree criminal mischief, menacing and three counts of wanton endangerment. He is scheduled for a hearing in Laurel District Court on July 24 and is held under a $10,000 cash bond.



cmills@sentinel-echo.com



Staff Writer Nita Johnson contributed to this story.