KENTON COUNTY, KY — A two-vehicle crash in Kenton County left one person dead Wednesday night, and police are still working to determine what caused the collision. The Kenton County Police Department said officers were called to the 14100 block of Dixie Highway near Green Road shortly after 8:40 p.m.
Investigators say the wreck involved a northbound vehicle and a southbound vehicle on the busy roadway. The impact turned fatal for the driver headed south.
The county’s Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team was asked to respond and help examine the crash scene.
Police say northbound driver crossed the center line
According to Kenton County police, an 80-year-old man was driving northbound on Dixie Highway when he crossed the center line into the opposite lane. His vehicle struck a car driven by 57-year-old Sherry Lingar, who was traveling southbound.
Police have not said what caused the northbound vehicle to cross over. They have also not released any information about whether weather, speed, distraction or a medical issue played a role.
The collision happened on a stretch of Dixie Highway near Green Road, an area that carries steady local traffic and connects drivers through central Kenton County.
Sherry Lingar was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Hospital
Emergency crews transported Lingar to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Florence after the crash. Hospital staff later pronounced her dead, police said.
No other injuries were mentioned in the police account. Officials did not immediately identify any passengers or other people involved beyond the two drivers.
Her death turned the investigation from a routine crash response into a fatal traffic reconstruction case, which is now being handled by specialized county investigators.
Reconstruction team is examining the factors behind the wreck
The Kenton County Police Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team was requested to respond at the scene. That unit typically helps document vehicle positions, roadway evidence and other details that can clarify how a crash happened.
Police said the factors related to the collision remain under investigation. At this point, they have not announced any citations, charges or findings.
Investigators are still reviewing the circumstances that led to the center-line crossing and the deadly impact on Dixie Highway.
Dixie Highway crash adds to nighttime traffic danger concerns
The fatal wreck occurred after dark, when visibility and traffic conditions can make roadway hazards harder to spot. Police did not say whether the crash was caused by a lane departure, a sudden maneuver or another traffic event.
For now, the key known facts are limited to the time, place and the two vehicles involved. The fatal outcome underscores how quickly an apparent lane-crossing crash can become deadly on a major county route.
Authorities are continuing to piece together the sequence of events before they decide whether any further action is warranted.
Police ask witnesses to contact Officer James Treadway
Kenton County police are asking anyone with information about the crash to reach Officer James Treadway by email at james.treadway@kentoncountyky.gov. Tips can also be shared through the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center’s non-emergency line at 859-356-3191.
Investigators have not said when they expect to finish the case review. For now, the department says the collision remains an active investigation as officials try to determine exactly what happened on Dixie Highway.
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