By Stephanie Ockerman - Managing Editor
A Mt. Sterling Marine home on leave was one of four motorcycle fatalities on state roads over a one-week period, according to police.
Kentucky State Police said Steven Adkins, 21, was traveling east on KY 191 in Wolfe County on Saturday, June 13 when he lost control of his 2007 Yamaha motorcycle.
Adkins was thrown from the motorcycle and struck a guardrail post, police said. The wreck occurred at 8:58 p.m. Adkins was not wearing a helmet, according to police.
Deputy Coroner Gary Sparks pronounced Adkins dead at the scene at 9:36 p.m.
Preliminary statistics indicate that 11 people died in 11 separate crashes from Monday, June 8 through Sunday, June 14.
Four of the victims were riding motorcycles and two of those crashes involved the suspected use of alcohol. Motorcycle crashes occurred in Daviess, Lawrence, Montgomery and Wolfe counties and none of the victims were wearing helmets.
Six of the crashes involved motor vehicles and four of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Single-fatality crashes occurred in Bell, Logan, Lyon, Meade, Pendleton and Pike counties. Alcohol was a factor in three of the crashes.
On bicycle fatality occurred in Trigg County and the victim was not wearing a helmet.
Through June 14, preliminary statistics indicate that 342 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2009. This is seven more than reported for the same time period in 2008, the KSP said. There were 287 motor vehicle fatalities and 160 of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Sixteen pedestrians have been killed. Thirty-three fatalities involved a motorcycle and five fatalities involved an ATV. A total of eighty-one fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.
Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.
