March 28, 2018
Father and Son died in collision on US 23
LOUISA, KENTUCKY – On October 19, 2016, Vernal Ray Wiley and his son, Justin Charles Wiley, residents of Inez and former residents of Van Lear, were traveling west on Kentucky Rt. 645 in Martin County in a vehicle operated by Vernal Ray Wiley.
At the same time, Brian Jenkins, of Pike County, was operating a flat bed tractor trailer traveling south on US 23 in Lawrence County.
The two vehicles “met” in Lawrence County at the junction of US 23 and Rt. 645 when the Wiley vehicle pulled onto US 23 to travel South when it was struck by the Jenkins truck resulting in a crash that demolished the Wiley vehicle, causing injuries to Vernal and Justin Wiley and resulting deaths.
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estates of Vernal Ray Wiley and Justin Wiley by Phillip Blair of Kirk Law Firm alleging that the crash was caused by “excessive speed” of the Jenkins vehicle. The lawsuit was vigorously contested with the claim that the driver of the Wiley vehicle failed to stop at the US 23 intersection and pulled in front of the Jenkins truck.
There will not be a trial in this case because the parties have agreed to settle. The terms of the settlement have not been released.
“This was an awful tragedy,” John Kirk said. “Fortunately, the parties have reached an agreement of settlement and the family will not have to relive the horrors of what happened by going through a trial. Out of respect for the family, details of the settlement agreement will be kept private.”
