On Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 7:17pmCT, the Adair County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to a reported vehicle vs semi collision 7.5 miles north of Columbia on KY-55. Upon arrival, Deputies found that a 2013 Ford Fiesta, being operated by 25 year old Paul Rafferty of Taylor County, KY had struck a 1989 Freight-liner being operated by 67 year old Darrell Sprowles of Taylor County. Deputies observed Rafferty was unresponsive and pinned in the vehicle.
Preliminary investigation indicates that Rafferty was traveling at a high rate of speed heading north, when he came upon Mr. Sprowles who was operating at a lower speed due to being loaded with grain. Rafferty was unable to recognize that the semi was going at a slower speed and was unable to slow in time before striking it in the rear.
The collision was investigated by Deputy Joey Keith who was assisted on scene by Deputy Josh Durbin and Kentucky State Troopers.