Principal, 21-year-old die in Kentucky crash, children injured

The drivers — a southeastern Kentucky elementary school principal and a 21-year-old man — were killed and children were injured in a two-vehicle crash near London, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

The head-on crash happened about 9:30 p.m. Monday on Old Way Road, about 3 miles east of London, the sheriff’s office said.

Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling said Jamie Gilliam, 38, and James Dylan Johnson died. Gilliam was the principal at London’s Johnson Elementary School, Bowling said.

Johnson’s Kia Rio, traveling northbound on Old Way Road, topped a small hill and struck Gilliam’s southbound Honda Odyssey van, the sheriff’s office said. Both died at the the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

Gilliam was named principal in 2015, according to an article from the Sentinel-Echo. She was a lifelong Laurel County resident who earned her undergraduate degree at Eastern Kentucky University, according to her message on the school’s website. She also got her graduate degree in educational leadership from EKU and a graduate degree in special education from Union College.

Laurel County Schools Superintendent Doug Bennett said the school district and community are “deeply saddened by the loss of one dear to us all personally and professionally.”

“Jaime Gilliam was very special to us,” Bennett said. “She was a devoted mother and wife and tremendous in every role which she served. She was an excellent teacher and principal. Jamie was recently hired as our director of pupil personnel. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Gilliam’s three children — ages 6, 11 and 14 — and her husband were also injured in the crash, according to Bowling. The 14- and 6-year-old children were later flown to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital in Lexington with serious injuries, the sheriff’s office said. Johnson was the only person in his vehicle, Bowling added.

Johnson was originally from Clay County and had just moved to London, according to the coroner.

“Tonight is one of those incidents we hope we never have to see,” the Laurel County Fire Department wrote on Facebook. “Please keep the families and first responders involved in your prayers. Everyone did the best possible.”

This story was originally published July 2, 2019 at 7:08 AM.