Central Kentucky man accused of drunk driving in crash that left passenger dead
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Driver charged with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI after crash kills passenger.
- Police found passenger unresponsive; he died in an ambulance and was unbelted.
- Defendant registered 0.11 BAC, faces third DUI charge and imminent arraignment.
A Kentucky man with two past DUI charges is accused of hitting a tree while driving drunk over the weekend, killing his passenger.
The crash happened around 9 p.m. Saturday on Bethlehem Road in Bourbon County. Court documents say when officers arrived at the scene, they found CJ McKee, identified by Bourbon County Coroner Deegee Roe, lying unresponsive near a fence.
McKee died in an ambulance at the scene, according to court documents. Officials said he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The driver, Nathaniel Pack, 28, of Carlisle, was allegedly stumbling, belligerent and had the odor of alcohol on his breath when he spoke to emergency crews. Court documents say he told officers he and McKee were coming from Lexington and had three beers each.
Pack was taken to the Bourbon County Detention Center, where he took a breathalyzer, reportedly testing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.11. Pack also consented to a blood test, the court documents state.
Pack is charged with reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence and failure to wear a seat belt. He is being held at the Bourbon County Detention Center.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in Bourbon District Court Wednesday, Jan 14.
More details
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the cost of McKee’s funeral. As of early Monday afternoon, the fundraiser had collected nearly $3,000, with the goal of raising $4,500.
Any additional funds will be set aside to help care for McKee’s three children.
“CJ was known for his big heart, his love for his kids, and the joy he brought to his friends and everyone around him,” McKee’s mother, Melissa McKee, wrote on the fundraising page. “He was always the one to make people laugh and was happiest when spending time with his children and close friends. His absence has left a void that can never be filled.”
This is the third time Pack has been charged with DUI, according to court records.
In 2015, he was charged with a DUI after driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.101. He accepted a guilty plea deal for an amended charge and was fined $200, according to court records.
Pack picked up his second DUI charge in 2018. Court records indicate he was jailed for seven days, fined $350 and had his license suspended for 12 months. About one month after having his license suspended, Pack was charged with driving on a DUI-suspended license, according to court records. He served 10 days in jail while having another 80 days of his sentence conditionally discharged.
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 1:38 PM.
