KSP troopers investigating deadly crash in Ballard County
WICKLIFFE, Ky. (KBSI) – Kentucky State Police troopers are investigating deadly crash that happened Saturday evening in Ballard County.
KSP Post 1 received a call from the Ballard County Sheriff’s Office requesting troopers investigate a two vehicle crash that occurred on US-51 at the intersection of Union Construction Gate Road on January 20 around 8:30 p.m.
Troopers trained in collision reconstruction responded to the scene.
An initial investigation revealed that a 2021 Freightliner truck-tractor with a semi-trailer, driven by Brian K. Bender, 57, of Tyner, North Carolina was backing across both lanes of US-51 into the entrance of the Phoneix Paper Mill at Union Construction Gate Road, according to Kentucky State Police.
A 2016 Nissan Altima, driven by Theresa Polivick, 70, of Wickliffe, Ky. was traveling northbound on US-51. A passenger in the Nissan Altima was identified as Larry Polivick, 70, of Wickliffe.
Troopers say the driver of the Nissan Altima failed to observe the commercial motor vehicle, collided with the semi-trailer and came to final rest under the semi-trailer.
The drive of the Nissan Altima, Theresa Polivick, was taken by AirEvac to an out-of-state hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
The passenger of the Nissan Altima, Larry Polivick, was also taken to an out-of-state hospital where he remains in stable but critical condition.
The driver of the Freightliner did not report any injuries.
The investigation remains ongoing by Trooper Casey Hamby. KSP was assisted on scene by the Ballard County Sheriff’s Office, Ballard County Emergency Management, Ballard County EMS, Ballard County Rescue, Wickliffe Fire Department, Carlise County EMS, and AirEvac Lifeteam.
