RICHMOND —
Police believe a man that was killed Saturday in a single-vehicle accident had just stolen copper from a vacant Richmond factory and fled the scene after a witness called police.
James M. Ward, 40, of McKee, died at 11:17 a.m. after his car ran left the southbound lane of Interstate 75 near mile marker 84 and traveled about 200 feet down an embankment before crashing into a rocky ravine, according to the Kentucky State Police and the Madison County coroner.
Witness statements and the distance the car traveled after leaving the road indicated that speed was a factor in causing the wreck, Coroner Jimmy Cornelison said.
Shortly before the accident, Richmond police responded to a call about a copper theft that had just happened at a vacant factory on South Keeneland Drive, RPD Chief Larry Brock said in a news release.
A contractor hired to clean the property reported when he arrived at the site, he saw a man inside a car parked in the rear of the building, according to Brock.
The contractor saw the car had a large amount of copper in the passenger compartment and the trunk, and when he told the man he was calling the police, the man sped away, Brock said.
The contractor gave police a description of the vehicle and its license plate. The officers determined the copper came from the factory and was valued at $1,000, Brock said.
Shortly after taking the theft report, the officers learned the fatal accident on I-75 involved a vehicle that matched the description of the one seen at the factory. The copper was still in the vehicle, Brock said.
The wreck is under investigation by the KSP.
Crime
RPD: Man killed in Saturday wreck had just fled scene of copper theft
- Crime
-
-
Man arrested Friday after early morning break-in
Richmond police made an arrest Friday in connection with an early morning break-in at Jack’s Cleaners on West Water Street.
Scott Hobbs, 42, of McKee, was charged with first-degree burglary, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock
At 3:25 a.m., a witness reported seeing a man enter and exit the cleaners through a broken window and drive away, Brock stated in a news release. -
Grand jury indicts inmates in jail assault
Two inmates at the Madison County Detention Center were indicted Wednesday on charges related to the beating of another prisoner.
A Madison grand jury indicted 28-year-old Justin Morgan Howell and 26-year-old Lucas Wayne Shanks on charges of second-degree assault, second-degree escape and second-degree persistent felony offenders. -
Berea couple accused of chaining children into bedroom
A Berea couple was charged Wednesday after they admitted to using chains and ropes to lock four children into a room, according to Berea police.
-
Passenger arrested on drug charges; driver flees
Berea police arrested 23-year-old Alaina Hammonds of Berea on drug charges after a May 8 traffic stop.
-
Arrest made in theft of small safe from Madison Manor
Robert L. King, 37, was arrested May 14 and charged with second-degree burglary in connection with the April theft of a small safe at Madison Manor, according to Richmond police.
-
Stabbing trial delayed until September
The trial date for a first-degree assault case has been pushed back yet again, this time because of an eight-month delay in receiving medical records.
-
RPD: Woman threw wrench at man, hit back of woman’s head
An East Irvine Street woman was charged Monday with felony assault after she threw an adjustable wrench at a man but instead struck another woman in the head, according to a Richmond police report.
-
Women indicted on meth-making charges
A Madison grand jury indicted two women last week on a charge of making methamphetamine in their Turpin Drive apartment.
Richmond police arrested Alison N. Sloas, 25, and Rebecca J. Henry, 38, after they received a complaint April 2 about a strong chemical odor in the neighborhood, according to an RPD news release. -
Man charged in strong-arm robbery outside Blue Moon bar
Police charged 35-year-old Ivan E. Gordon, Sizemore Drive, on Friday in connection with a strong-armed robbery outside the Blue Moon bar.
At 11:06 p.m., an officer met with a man who said he had been assaulted and robbed outside the Blue Moon bar, 525 E. Irvine St., a short time earlier. -
Four charged with illegally occupying a foreclosed home
Police arrested a number of people on burglary charges May 3 after they unlawfully took up residence in a foreclosed home, according to an RPD report.
Police developed information indicating that several people were living in a foreclosed home in in the 300 block of Bowerwood Drive. - More Crime Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
