1 injured, 1 cited for alcoholic beverage in vehicle after crash in Graves County

GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – One person was injured and another faces a charge of open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle after a crash Wednesday in Graves County.

Graves County sheriff’s deputies responded to a two vehicle, injury collision on US 45 South and KY 80 around 5:20 p.m. on January 3.

Deputy Zac Smith and Chief Deputy Jeremy Prince arrived with a few minutes of the call.

Jimmy Etheridge, 79 of Reagan, Tenn. was driving northbound on US 45 in a 2002 Nissan SUV. He pulled into the intersection of KY 80 and US 45 when the traffic light was red for northbound traffic, according to the deputies.

As Etheridge pulled into the intersection, he crashed into the driver’s door of a 2005 Chevrolet truck driven by Christian Mendoza, 23, of Batesville, Arkansas.

The collision caused Etheridge’s vehicle to spin 180 degrees. It came to rest on the north side of the intersection.

Mendoza pulled his vehicle onto the westbound shoulder of the roadway after impact.

Etheridge did not complain of any injuries at the scene.

Mendoza was treated for minor arm pain at the scene but he did not request transport to a medical facility.

A passenger in Etheridge’s vehicle, Mary A. Hayes, 49 of Sardis, Tenn. was injured. She was taken to Mercy Health Paducah by Mayfield/Graves County EMS.

A passenger in Mendoza’s vehicle, Faustino Molina, 59, of Batesville, Arkansas was not injured in the crash.

Etheridge was cited for possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and disregarding a traffic control device.

The Graves County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by Deputy Tony Cornwell, Mayfield/Graves County EMS, the Mayfield Police Department and Mayfield/Graves County Fire and Rescue Squad.