Jan. 22--A woman was killed and a Franklin Police Department officer was seriously injured Saturday in a two-vehicle collision on Ky. 100 inside the Franklin city limits, according to Kentucky State Police Post 3 spokesman Trooper Greg Dukes.
Franklin police Officer Kelly Mayfield was traveling west in his police cruiser while answering a non-emergency call about 2:30 p.m. when his car was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by LaDonna S. Southard, 30, of Franklin, Dukes said.
Southard died at the scene, Dukes said.
Mayfield, 36, who was cut from his vehicle, was first taken to The Medical Center at Bowling Green for treatment.
Later, because of the severity of his injuries, he was taken by ambulance to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Franklin police Chief Todd Holder said.
Mayfield, who lives in Bowling Green, has worked for the Franklin Police Department since 2003 and is well-liked by his peers, Holder said.
"He's one of our veteran officers," Holder said. "He's one of the anchor guys on days. All of the other guys look up to him. He's a great guy. We are sorry that happened to him and for the other people's family. It's a very tragic event."
According to Dukes, the driver of a car that was traveling west in front of Mayfield saw Southard's vehicle cross the center line. The driver in front of Mayfield swerved to avoid a head-on collision, but Mayfield was unable to avoid a crash. Dukes said a second witness also saw Southard's car cross the center line.
Mayfield was responding to a call and traveling with the flow of traffic, with a car in front of him and a car behind him, Dukes said. Neither vehicle involved in the crash carried any passengers.
Mayfield has several broken bones, Holder said. He will be placed on paid administrative leave while receiving medical care and pending the conclusion of the investigation, which is being conducted by the state police.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts, Dukes said.
Copyright 2012 - Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.
