By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
WOOTEN, Ky. — Authorities made two arrests in connection with a fire engine crash that claimed the life of a Coon Creek firefighter in October 2023.
Austin Turner, the driver of the fire engine, was indicted by a Leslie County grand jury on July 15 on charges of murder and wanton endangerment, WYMT reported.
Turner’s mother, Ethel Turner, who is also associated with the department, was indicted for tampering with physical evidence.
The October crash happened when Coon Creek Fire & Rescue firefighters were responding to an ATV crash. As three firefighters were following an ambulance to the landing zone, their vehicle went off the roadway, overturned and struck a house, WYMT reported.
The Leslie County Sheriff’s Department stated that when they arrived at the crash, Turner had already left, and another firefighter was trapped in the apparatus.
First responders managed to extricate Regina Huffman from the fire engine and transport her to Mary Breckinridge ARH, where she later died.
Law enforcement located Turner at Mary Breckinridge ARH. The arresting deputy reported that Turner was given a blood test, which revealed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Turner and his mother are held at the Leslie County Detention Center, with Austin’s bond set at $125,000 and Ethel’s at $25,000.
