Payne Gap, Ky. (August 13, 2020) – A two vehicle crash in Letcher County Thursday afternoon resulted in the death of a Jenkins man. At around 2:40 p.m., Troopers with Kentucky State Police (K.S.P.) Post 13 were called to investigate the crash which occurred on US 119 at the intersection of Jim Banks Road. Jenkins Police and Fire Departments, Letcher Sheriff’s Department, Letcher County EMS, Neon P.D. and Neon EMS all assisted at the scene.
The preliminary investigation determined that 25 year old William Vanover, of Jenkins was traveling southbound in a 1998 Chevrolet Caviler, when he attempted to turn onto Jim Banks Road. As the car began to cross the northbound lane it was struck by a 2019 Freightliner utility truck that was also traveling southbound. The driver of the truck, Francis Goodson of Hazard, claimed he had swerved into the northbound lane of US 119 to avoid a collision with another vehicle when he collided with Vanover’s car. William Vanover was pronounced deceased at the scene by Letcher County Coroner Rene Campbell. Francis Goodson was not injured, and seat belts were not in use at the time of the crash.
An autopsy is scheduled to be performed today at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort. Impairment is not suspected as a contributing factor and investigators do not anticipating criminal charges. Trooper Jarrett Fields with K.S.P. Post 13 is leading this investigation with assistance from Detective Scott Caudill.
