KSP TROOPER ARRESTS WANTED BUTLER COUNTY, KENTUCKY MAN IN LAWRENCE COUNTY WHO IS FACING INDICTMENT ON MURDER, FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, AND OTHER CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH DUI DEATH CRASH
DEADLY AUTO VEHICLE ACCIDENT HAPPENEDLATE LAST MONTH IN OHIO COUNTY, KENTUCKY
A man from Butler County, Kentucky, who has several a DUI history, and barely survived a brutal wreck just three weeks ago, that also left a teenage girl dead and another teenage girl injured, was arrested late Thursday night in Lawrence County by state police after apparently attempting to flee from indictment charges related to the deadly crash.
According to the arrest report, Kentucky State Police Trooper Bradley Couch conducted a traffic stop just shortly after 11:00 P.M.,Friday night, September 18, on a vehicle. After making contact with the driver, Trooper Couch discovered that the male driver, who was identified as Kristopher S. West, 27, of Morgantown, Kentucky, which is in Butler County; was wanted in connection to nine indictment charges that had been handed down in Ohio County, Kentucky several days earlier, including major charges of murder, and serious felony charges of assault and DUI.
The nine charge indictment was related in connection to an automobile crash case in Ohio County in late August.
According to the report from the Kentucky State Police-Post 16-Henderson, Ky., located in Henderson County, in western Kentucky; they received a call of a one-vehicle fatal collision on Thursday, August 27, 2020, around 7:15 PM. The collision occurred in the 4200 block of KY 764, near the Utica area in Ohio County.
The KSP Preliminary investigation revealed 27-year-old Kristopher S. West, of Morgantown, Ky. was traveling on KY 764 when he ran off the right shoulder of the roadway and struck a utility pole. Troopers believe West’s 2005 Toyota Highlander overturned multiple times, ejecting all participants.
17-year-old passenger Brianna Bratcher, of Bremen, Ky., which is in Muhlenberg County, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ohio County Coroner. The vehicle driver Kristopher S. West was injured and airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for life-threatening injuries. West’s medical condition was unknown at the time.
The third occupant, Kaela M. Hillard, 18 of Beaver Dam, Ky., located in Ohio County, was injured and transported by ambulance to Owensboro Regional Hospital in Owensboro, Ky. All three of the occupants in the vehicle were not wearing their seatbelts. At the time of the accident, it was unknown if drugs and/or alcohol contributed to the wreck collision.
On Monday, September 14, Kristopher West was indicted by a grand jury in Ohio County, which may have caused West to attempt to flee the state, thus him being caught while driving through Lawrence County.
Kristopher West was arrested by Trooper Bradley Couch and was taken into custody, facing the nine charges of the Ohio County indictment, which were as the following:
• MURDER,
• ASSAULT, 1ST DEGREE,
• OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER/INFLUENCE ALCOHOL (189A.010(1B) – 4TH OR > OFFENSE, (AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES),
• DRIVING DUI SUSPENDED LICENSE – 2ND OFFENSE (AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES),
• UNLAWFUL TRANSACTION W/MINOR 2ND DEGREE,
• POSSESSION OF OPEN ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTAINER IN MOTOR VEHICLE PROHIBITED,
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
• FAILURE OF OWNER TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE/SECURITY, 1ST OFFENSES,
• NO REGISTRATION PLATES.
Kristopher S. West was transported to and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville; where he remains waiting to be extradited back to face his indictment charges in Ohio County, Kentucky.
Well, there’s one who wishes he were black right about now!
He was not driving a vehicle or fleeing to anywhere. They arrested him from a physical and mental rehabilitation facility that he was in for his condition after the wreck. He was never indicted for these charges on sept 14th due to his mental and physical state after the wreck. So you might want to get your facts straight.
Bull Manure!
Not Bull manure. Straight up facts. Don’t know where this dude got his info but he must have needed a good story
I wouldn’t be defending him family or not! Do you have any sympathy for the young lady that lost her life?? He needs help obviously but also deserves his punishment!!!