Sept. 16--GLASGOW -- Mark A. Taulbee, an officer with the Hodgenville Police Department, was killed Sunday when his police vehicle crashed during a pursuit.
Taulbee had been with the Hodgenville Police Department for 13 months. He had also been a deputy with the Butler County Sheriff's Department for 3 years prior to his employment with Hodgenville. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and two children, Audra who is 20, and Austin, 17.
At approximately 2:43 a.m., Kentucky State Police Post 4 received a call from LaRue County Dispatch that officer Taulbee had been involved in a pursuit and had crashed near the 4600 block of Ky. 210. Taulbee was transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital and later flown to University of Louisville Hospital where he died of injuries he sustained in the crash. He was pronounced dead at approximately 5:28 a.m.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Taulbee was eastbound on Ky. 210 in pursuit of a silver Nissan Altima. At the 4697 block, he lost control of his cruiser and it rotated clockwise. His cruiser left the roadway on the eastbound side, struck an earth embankment on the driver's side, went airborne and came to final rest in a ditch facing northwest. Taulbee was ejected from the vehicle and was treated at the scene by the LaRue County EMS. He was wearing a seatbelt.
The suspect, Jason L. Avis, 29, of Hodgenville, continued on, but later turned himself in at the LaRue County Jail. Avis has been arrested and charged with wanton endangerment, first degree and fleeing or evading police, first degree. Other charges are pending.
Post 4 Detective Terry Whittaker is the reconstructionist conducting the ongoing investigation.
Copyright 2012 - Glasgow Daily Times, Ky.
