The truck driver who caused a horrific accident in Kentucky March 26, killing himself and 10 passengers in a van on their way to a wedding, was talking on his cellphone up to the time of the crash and appeared to have been speeding, ccording to a Kentucky State Police report.
http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=70330
The trucker, Kenneth Laymon of Alabama, worked for Hester Inc., which has 25 tractor-trailers. He was traveling along Interstate 65 near Munfordville, Ky., when he crossed a median and struck an oncoming 15-seat Dodge van head-on.
Most of the passengers in the van were Mennonites who were on their way from Burkesville, Ky., to a wedding in Iowa.
The tragedy took place shortly after 5:30 a.m., about 40 miles northwest The van had left from Burkesville, Kyof Bowling Green, not far from Mammoth Cave National Park.
But there were two survivors of the accident, two young brothers. They were both strapped into child safety seats, and lived after being thrown from the van.
The Mennonite deceased included John Esh, 64, and his 62-yar-old wife Sadie Esh, who owned a vinyl siding business in Marrowbone, Ky.
In addition, four of the Esh’s 12 children were killed, as well as their daughter-in-law, their youngest daughter’s fiancé, their infant grandchild and a family friend. The only crash survivors who were passengers in the van were the Eshes’ two grandsons, 5-year-old Josiah Esh and 3-year-old Johnny Esh.
Their adopted baby brother, Jalen, died in the collision.
The New York Times called the crash the worst two-vehicle highway crash in Kentucky since 1988. There were 27 people killed in that accident.