An Elizaville teenager is dead after stepping out in front of a vehicle Wednesday, according to police. Thirteen-year-old Amber Choate of Fleming County was walking across KY 32 when the eighth grader stepped out in front of a 2002 Chevy Pickup driven by Dustin Hawkins, 29, of Flemingsburg, according to police.
Police reports say Hawkins had no time to react to the juvenile in front of his vehicle.
“The impact of the vehicle knocked her several feet,” Fleming County Coroner Gary Workman said. “The driver of the vehicle then turned around to check on her. He and his friend were going deer hunting and driving separate vehicles. The person in the other vehicle was an off duty deputy sheriff. The two men said she had a faint heart beat when they got back to her.”
Choate was transported to Fleming County Hospital where she was pronounced dead by Workman.
Choate had been visiting her grandmother and was crossing KY 32 to go home, according to reports.
“We are going to remember Amber as a really energetic honor student who always worked hard and tried to help others,” said Simmons Middle School Principal Lisa Eldridge.
“Our faculty and students were shaken by this and they were able to express their grief with each other and we had counselors here from the school district. Our youth service center was instrumental in helping students that were upset by providing counseling.”
The local counseling firm “Comprehend” brought counselors in to aid with grieving students also, according to Eldridge.
Simons Middle School started Wednesday off with a moment of silence. According to Eldridge, news reached many of the students before the school day even started. School officials say the day ended with a memorial service.
“She was very active in our ‘Cougars for Christ’ organization which is our student led Christian organization,” said Eldridge. “Our sympathy goes out to her family and I know how difficult it’s been here at school and I’m sure it is just magnified by her family.”
The funeral for Choate will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Simons Middle School.
Local News
13-year-old killed
Teen was 'energetic, honor student'
- Local News
-
-
Goldy wins prosecutor’s race
Morehead attorney Ronnie Goldy Jr. will be the next commonwealth’s attorney in the 21st Judicial Circuit consisting of Rowan, Bath, Menifee and Montgomery counties.
He carried three of the four counties in Tuesday’s Democratic primary and garnered a total of 2,575 votes.
-
Fiscal Court to repair Hamilton Bridge
Updates on the progress of plans for the new animal shelter, Hamilton Road Bridge project and salt purchase agreement were provided Tuesday at the meeting of Rowan County Fiscal Court.
-
Boyhood awe becomes life’s work in butterflies
Richard Hesterberg said he was intrigued by butterflies from his youth, admiring and catching the fluttering creatures. They became his passionate pursuit on the day he saw a photograph in a magazine.
-
DUI suspect flees two accident scenes
Michael Butler, 34, of Morehead, was arrested late Friday after he hit a vehicle, drove away and several minutes later crashed over a guardrail.
-
Voting places get upgrades
Rowan Judge-Executive Jim Nickell said efforts to make precincts at fire stations more accessible to elderly and handicapped voters are nearing completion, just in time for today’s primary election.
-
Uninsured motorists risk cancellation of registration
As mandated by the state legislature, uninsured motorists across Kentucky will begin receiving notices in June that registrations for their personal vehicles will be canceled if they do not obtain required insurance or show proof of existing insurance.
- KSP search for robbery suspects
-
Former MSU student dies after collapsing
Former Morehead State University student and Aramark employee, Justin Story, 28, passed away at UK Medical Center early this morning.
-
Sparse ballot for Tuesday’s primary
Rowan County’s 13,017 voters won’t have many choices to make when they go to the polls in next Tuesday’s primary election. Republicans will see only the presidential primary which has become a formality with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney now the presumptive GOP nominee. Also on that ballot are Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul.
-
Parking issues top Council agenda
Administrative matters took up much of the agenda at Monday’s regular meeting of the Morehead City Council, but the perennial downtown parking issue arose again. Council discussed problems with persons being ticketed during downtown events such as Noon Tunes, and passed a motion directing Mayor David Perkins to identify means to encourage citizens to patronize Main Street businesses over the summer, which may include relaxing downtown parking rules.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Goldy wins prosecutor’s race


