Published: October 25, 2009 04:58 pm      

Woman arrested for DUI in gas truck crash

A 24-year-old Barbourville woman who police said caused a crash Wednesday involving a gas truck along KY 3041 has been arrested.

The driver, Heather Morgan, was booked into Knox County Jail and charged with driving under the influence, operating on a suspended driver’s license and first degree assault, according to Kentucky State Police Vehicle Enforcement Division Sgt. Mike Taylor. Morgan also faces a fourth charge because a child riding in her car was not in a restraint seat, Taylor said.

The crash happened about 2:30 p.m. when Taylor said Morgan, who was driving westbound in a Chevrolet Cavalier, crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound Grand Am driven by Jessica Robbins, 26.

The impact caused Robbins to lose control of her Grand Am and crash head-on into a westbound Holston Gases truck driven by Aaron Kelly, 29, Taylor said.

The crash closed a portion of KY 3041 for about two and a half hours, police said. More than 45 tanks containing gas were strewn along the highway.

Following the crash, Robbins was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Hospital with head injuries, Taylor said. She remained hospitalized Thursday in fair condition, according to a hospital official.

Kelly wasn’t injured in the crash, Taylor said.

Morgan and her three passengers, two of whom were children, were taken to Baptist Regional Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries then released, Taylor said.

When police interviewed Morgan she denied being the driver of the Cavalier, claiming her passenger was driving, Taylor said. However, police determined Morgan was driving the Cavalier and a blood test confirmed she was impaired when the crash occurred, Taylor said.

Kentucky State Police arrested Morgan after she was released from the hospital, Taylor said.

Police continue to investigate the crash.

bmanley@thetimestribune.com