Lexington Herald-Leader
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — U.S. 25 northbound in Laurel County was closed for over three hours Wednesday for an investigation of a morning house fire that killed a 2-year-old boy.
Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling identified the victim as Josiah Vickers.
Laurel County sheriff’s deputy Gilbert Acciardo said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Acciardo said eight people — five adults and three children — live at the house, but it was unclear how many people were inside at the time of the fire.
Witnesses told police that workers from the nearby Kentucky Forest Products Inc. attempted to rescue those in the house, which is on the 4900 block of North Laurel Road, as did a next-door neighbor and two people from a passing car. Acciardo said no one was able to get inside the house to rescue the toddler due to “out-of-control flames.”
London firefighters arrived and were able to remove the toddler’s body from the back bedroom.
Firefighters from London, East Bernstadt and Crossroads fire departments all responded to the fire.
All other occupants were transported to St. Joseph Hospital in London, where two adults were then airlifted to UK Medical Center.
An autopsy will be performed Thursday morning on Vickers in Frankfort.
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