Wrong-way driver in Lexington crash that killed Michigan family of 5 had BAC of 0.306.

A Georgetown man had a blood-alcohol content level nearly four times the legal limit when he drove the wrong way on Interstate 75 and crashed into an SUV carrying a Michigan family of five who died, according to the Fayette County coroner.

Joey Lee Bailey, 41, had a BAC of .306 and was at fault in the Jan. 6 crash, according to Coroner Gary Ginn.

Issam Abbas, 42; Rima Abbas, 38; and their children Ali Abbas, 14; Isabella Abbas, 13; and Giselle Abbas, 7, died of blunt-force trauma and thermal injuries. The family was traveling home to Michigan from a Florida vacation, Ginn said previously.

Lexington police believe Bailey got onto the interstate from Paris Pike at exit 113 and drove south in the northbound lanes for about six miles, according to police spokesperson Brenna Angel. The crash occurred at about 2:30 a.m.

Bailey was also killed in the crash.

Police are still trying to determine where Bailey was going and his location before he drove onto I-75, Angel said.

Adnan Chirri, Rima’s uncle, told the Detroit Free Press “shocking” did not adequately describe the horrific events.

“You hardly ever hear of an entire family passing at the same time, especially someone that’s a young family like them,” he said, “That’s really going to be devastation, seeing five caskets at one time.”

A witness to the crash, Kenneth DeGraaf, told LEX 18 Bailey’s pickup truck nearly hit him.

“I thought I was seeing something, honestly,” DeGraaf said. “He was in the center lane. I was in the center lane. I had to merge out of the way at the last second to get to the right lane. I mean, he was flying. Absolutely flying.”

Bailey worked at Toyota in Georgetown, according to his obituary.

This story was originally published January 16, 2019 at 8:06 AM.