Alcohol a factor in Friday’s fatal I-75 crash [The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.]

Dec. 29--LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. -- A London man was killed in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 near the 57 mile marker in Rockcastle County early Friday morning.

Perry Eric Carlton, 30, was in the roadway when William C. Hackler, 59, of Williamsburg accidentally ran into him with his semi-tractor trailer around 5 a.m., according to Steven A. Douglas, public affairs officer with the Kentucky State Police-Vehicle Enforcement. Carlton was pronounced dead at the scene by Rockcastle County Coroner Billy Dowell.

Carlton, who allegedly had been drinking, was initially involved in a single vehicle crash. He was driving a red 2006 Pontiac when he lost control and crashed into a cable barrier on I-75. When he got out of his vehicle, he was struck by a 2000 Peterbuilt semi-tractor trailer driven by Hackler who was traveling in the fast lane.

While attempting to avoid Carlton, Hackler struck two other vehicles, a white 1999 Acura driven by 22-year-old Nicholas G. Nowicki of Grand Rapids, Mich., and a blue 2008 Subaru driven by Casey Thomas of Lexington.

Hackler, Nowicki, and Thomas were not injured.

Hackler was charged with log book violations, no insurance card, no transfer of ownership, and failure to add a company to taxable inventory.

Assisting at the scene were Sgt. Greg Reams and Officer Mike Hamblin of the Kentucky State Police-Vehicle Enforcement, Rockcastle County Coroner's Office, Rockcastle County EMS, Mt. Vernon Police, and Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office.

Sgt. Reams continues the investigation.

cmills@sentinel-echo.com

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