Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse says a 67-year-old truck driver from South Carolina was killed late Friday afternoon when his rig crashed into a slowing truck in front of him on eastbound I-64 near Woodlawn. The victim is identified as Wayne Franklin Baucom, Junior. He was trapped in his rig and extricated by Ashley firemen before being pronounced dead on the scene. The truck that was struck was driven by a 44-year-old male from Carrigan, Texas. The impact forced his rig into the rear of a passenger vehicle driven by a 58-year-old female from Marion. Traffic was diverted off I-64 in both directions. No injuries were reported to the two other drivers. The Baucom semi was hauling about 200 batteries. The Mt. Vernon Fire Hazmat Team responded to assist.
About three hours later, another three-vehicle chain reaction collision occurred in backed-up traffic on Interstate 64 eastbound at milepost 59 near Nashville, sending a total of four to the hospital. State Police say an SUV driven by 38-year-old Stephen Noe of Olmstead, Kentucky, struck the rear of a van driven by 35-year-old Allyson Hudnall of New Harmony, Indiana. The Hudnall vehicle then struck the rear of a car driven by 30-year-old Precious Greer of Alton. Noe, Hudnall, and a 10-year-old female passenger in the Hudnall van were all airlifted from the scene by medical helicopter to regional hospitals in serious condition. Greer was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Both lanes of I-64 reopened at 4:40 Saturday morning, more than 12 hours after the first crash occurred.
