On 03/17/2022, at approximately 8:24PM, Kentucky State Police began receiving calls of a wrong way driver on the Purchase Parkway traveling northbound in the southbound traffic lanes from milepost marker 4 in Fulton County.
Officers from Graves County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police urgently attempted to intercept the wrong- way vehicle. At 8:33PM, at milepost marker 17, Sergeant Chris Mensinger observed a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound traffic lanes. Sergeant Mensinger observed the wrong-way vehicle collide head-on with a southbound maroon minivan, immediately prior to him being able to intercept the wrong way driver.
The wrong-way vehicle was identified as a 2011 GMC Sierra Pickup truck, white in color, licensed out of Clarksville Tennessee. The minivan was identified as a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, registered out of Fulton Kentucky.
The Driver of the pickup was identified as Sammy McCarty, 64 years of age, of Clarksville Tennessee. Mr. McCarty sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Graves County Coroner’s Office. The driver of minivan was identified as James Johnson, 50 years of age from Fulton Kentucky, Mr. Johnson also of Fulton sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was also pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger in the minivan was identified as Carla Watson, 67 years of age, Ms. Watson was transported to Jackson Purchase Medical where she died shortly thereafter.
The southbound Lanes of the Purchase Parkway were closed for the investigation of the collision and reopened at 11:05PM. Autopsies are scheduled as well as pending toxicology results to determine if intoxicants played a role in this collision. Notification of next of kin of all families involved was completed this morning.
The Wingo and Mayfield Fire Departments (EMS) Mayfield -Graves County Rescue Squad, Kentucky State Police, Graves County Office of Emergency Management, Burl’s and Paul’s Towing Services all assisted at the scene of this collision.
End of Release
Sheriff Jon Hayden