KY man accused of driving drunk, causing crash that killed child
A Kentucky man has been charged after police say he drove drunk and caused a crash that killed a child and injured two others.
The crash happened just before 1:15 a.m. Sunday on Sano Mount Olive Road in Russell County, according to Kentucky State Police. David King, 31, of Columbia, was driving a 2009 Chevrolet HHR when he went off the road and hit a tree.
Three juveniles were in King’s car, according to KSP. One was declared dead at Russell County Hospital, one was taken to University of Kentucky Hospital with life-threatening injuries, and a third was taken to Russell County Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The victim that died was 14, according to court documents. The child at UK Hospital is 12, and the child at Russell County Hospital is 15.
King was charged with vehicular homicide under the influence of alcohol, DUI, two counts of first-degree assault, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, failure to wear seat belts and reckless driving, according to KSP. King’s arrest citation says he admitted to drinking about 30 beers in the five hours before the crash and declined to take field sobriety tests.
King took a preliminary breath test and had a 0.130 blood alcohol concentration, according to his arrest citation.
It was King’s third time being charged with DUI. Court records show his most recent DUI was in 2020, and he was sentenced to seven days in jail and ordered to pay a $350 fine. His license was also suspended for 18 months.
King is being held in the Russell County Detention Center, according to KSP.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM.
