Fatal Hazard Crash Kills Two, Seriously Injures State Trooper

Edward Dewayne Reynolds, 69, of Mallie, and Christa Slone, 50, of Leburn, were pronounced dead at the intersection of KY-80 and Perry Circle Road in Hazard on Sunday morning after their vehicle turned directly into the path of a Kentucky State Police trooper racing to answer an emergency call in Knott County.

The crash happened just after 11:00 a.m. at the intersection of KY-80 and Perry Circle Road, just north of Hazard. KSP said the trooper was responding to an emergency call for service in Knott County, traveling east on KY-80, when another vehicle traveling west on KY-80 attempted to turn left onto Perry Circle Road and pulled into the trooper's path. The two vehicles collided in the intersection.

The driver, identified as 69-year-old Edward Dewayne Reynolds of Mallie, and passenger Christa Slone, 50, of Leburn, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Perry County Coroner's Office. Both were from Knott County.

The trooper sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center before being flown to UK Chandler Medical Center. The trooper, assigned to KSP Post 13 in Hazard, has not been identified by name in any official release.

The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the KSP Critical Incident Response Team. KSP Post 13 requested the CIRT to take over the probe, a standard procedure when a trooper is involved in a crash resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. The driver and passenger in the other vehicle were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Perry County Coroner's Office.

Responding agencies at the scene included the Hazard Police Department, Perry County Sheriff's Office, Perry County Ambulance, and the Hazard Fire Department.

KSP released a formal statement saying it is "committed to maintaining transparency while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. In accordance with standard operating procedures, specific details will not be released until vital witnesses have been interviewed and all pertinent facts have been gathered. The timeline for completing the investigation will depend on the complexity of the case."

No charges, citations, or toxicology results have been disclosed. The CIRT's findings, including a full account of crash mechanics and any reconstruction details, are expected once witness interviews are complete.