Two Adair County residents were airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital following a single vehicle collision over the weekend. Police say speed & alcohol may have been contributing factors.
On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at approx.12:45amCT, the Columbia Police Department was dispatched to Fairground Street to a reported injury accident. Upon Officers Josh Brockman and Jamie Cole's arrival, it was discovered that one passenger had been ejected completely and the operator of the vehicle was partially ejected from the driver's window. Two additional passengers had freed themselves from the auto. The driver, Kemet Rufus, was pinned as a result of the crash and had to be extricated by mechanical means.
Rufus was operating a 1996 Geo Tracker traveling east on KY 206 when he attempted to overtake a vehicle and lost control. Rufus left the right side of the roadway and struck a road tile, sending the vehicle airborne before overturning twice, coming to rest on its top 150 feet from where it left the roadway.
The driver, Kemet Rufus, was treated on scene by Adair EMS and transported to TJ Health Columbia and then airlifted to University of Louisville via Air Evac.
A passenger, Kanissaai Thompson (who was completely ejected & not belted), was treated by Adair EMS and transported to TJ Health Columbia and was also airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital
Two other passengers, Dereck and Alexus Grant, were taken to TJ Health Columbia where they were treated and released.
The collision remains under investigation by Ofc. Brockman. Alcohol and speed are suspected as contributing factors. Charges are pending results of blood evidence collection sent to the KSP Central Lab for analysis for presence of alcohol & drugs.
