In Aug. 28 - Sept. 3 issue
By Greg Wells
Times Journal Managing Editor

JAMESTOWN - There were a number of accidents with the most recent being blamed on rain and another on a sleepy driver. But the most unusual were two involving boats that were still on their trailers Friday night.

One unsecured boat struck a bystander along the road while another was backed into a bystander at a boat ramp.

Jamestown Police report Olen Tucker Sr. was walking on the sidewalk along Boat Dock Road north of the Russell Springs Elementary School when he was struck in the chest by a run-away boat.

He said that about 7:30 p.m. a 14-ft. aluminum boat and trailer came un-hooked from a Dodge pickup truck that was headed toward the lake.

The boat and trailer spun around in the road after coming loose and the tongue of the trailer struck the 61-year-old Olen in the chest, cutting him and possibly breaking some bones.

The truck was being driven by 33-year-old Michael Scott Robertson. According to emergency workers at the scene the safety chains of the trailer were not fastened to the truck.

Tucker was transported by the Russell County EMS to the Russell County Hospital emergency room for treatment of his injuries.

Later that same evening, around 11 p.m., a Russell Springs teenager was injured when she was struck by a boat and trailer being backed into the water at Lily Creek Boat Ramp.

According to the Kentucky State Police 25-year-old Kenneth Bartrug was backing a pontoon boat and trailer down the ramp when it hit first Amber Reese, 17, and then a vehicle parked near the end of the ramp.

Deputy Nick Bertram said Reese was taken by ambulance to the Russell County Hospital emergency room for treatment.

According to the KSP Bartrug was charged with DUI and taken to the Russell County Jail.

Tuesday afternoon on Mt. Eden Road a wreck sent a 54-year-old Russell Springs woman to the hospital.

Patricia Bolen reportedly lost control of her 1990 Buick in a curve and the car crashed head-on into a tree.

Deputy Tim Pierce reported that Bolen was transported by ambulance to the Russell County Hospital for treatment. A passenger in the car escaped injury.

The deputy reported that the wreck occured at 4:00 p.m. and he noted that rain-slick roads were a contributing factor in the collision.

A one vehicle wreck Saturday morning was blamed on a sleepy driver.

Sgt. Troy Young of the Russell Springs Police Department said that 17-year-old Jonathan Bernard fell asleep while driving his his 91 Chevy pickup and that about 7:25 a.m. that truck left Ky. 80, near the original Union Underware Factory then struck two culverts and then rolled over several times.

Bernard was taken to the hospital where he was treated and later released.